Lionel Messi: 'Inter Miami will be the last club in my career'

Lionel Messi says Inter Miami will be the last club he represents in his illustrious career.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner told ESPN that he plans on retiring once he is finished playing for the Major League Soccer side and does not intend to return to Europe nor to his native Argentina.

"Inter Miami will be the last club in my career," said Messi, whose contract runs through the 2025 MLS season - although there is an option for 2026.

Messi, who turns 37 on 24 June, joined the Herons last summer after playing for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2022 World Cup winner has 12 goals and an MLS-best 13 assists in 12 matches from 11 starts this season for league-leading Miami.

"I've done this all of my life; I love playing ball. I enjoy the practices and the day-to-day, the games. Yeah, there's a bit of fear that it's all ending. It's always there. It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come here," he said.

"The fact we won the World Cup helped, it helped a lot, to see things in another way. But I try not to think about it. I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I'm aware that there's not a lot of time left. So I have a good time with the club, being lucky having good team-mates and friends at my side.

"I enjoy my time with the national team, where I also have good friends too and a lot. I enjoy those small details that I know I'll miss when I stop playing."

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