Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has hinted to his retirement as he shared with ESPN Argentina on Wednesday that Inter Miami will be the last club he plays for.

Messi will turn 37 on June 24 and will likely be playing in his final major international tournament with Argentina this summer in the Copa América. The 2022 World Cup winner hasn't set an official retirement date but said that Inter Miami will be his curtain call.

His contract with the Herons runs until the end of 2025.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami final club quote

Inter Miami will have a tough month of June.

Messi to miss up to six games with Inter Miami during Copa América

Lionel Messi is set to miss over four games with Inter Miami in MLS ahead of his participation in the 2024 Copa América with Argentina this summer.

Messi, who will play his seventh edition of the South American tournament in the Albicelestes’ effort to defend the title won in 2021, will play his last match for Miami this Saturday against St. Louis City SC before joining the national team camp in Argentina.

No Messi, no party.

Fans in attendance for the Vancouver Whitecaps match against Inter Miami last Saturday, who were most certainly expecting to see Lionel Messi on the pitch at the time of buying their tickets, were not impressed with the Argentine’s ‘unexcused’ absence.

Vancouver fans' reaction to Lionel Messi's absence vs. Whitecaps

Soccer fans in Vancouver were incredibly disappointed on Thursday when it was announced that Inter Miami’s biggest stars aren’t making the trip to Canada for Saturday’s game.

Despite all three being healthy and playing in Inter Miami’s previous game vs. D.C. United, the trio will hang back home.

Tickets prices skyrocketed for what was expected to be a record 50,000+ attendance at BC Place. The Whitecaps released a statement sharing their disappointment with fans and offering 50% off food and drinks.

The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for $969,000, auction house Bonhams said on Friday.

The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca's former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.

Lionel Messi napkin sells for nearly $1 million

It has been reported that MLS’ newest expansion team, San Diego FC, has started to monitor the contractual situations of former Real Madrid players with the idea of recreating the ‘El Clásico’ rivalry in the United States.

Real Madrid 2.0: San Diego FC linked to Ramos, Modrić and more

According to Juanfe Sanz Pérez, reporter for El Chiringuito in Spain, the new California franchise has become interested in signing Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, Nacho Fernández and Keylor Navas — all players who become free agents this summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career while Spanish golfer Jon Rahm moved up to second following his sensational switch to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Ronaldo became the world's highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr and Forbes said the 39-year-old's estimated total earnings were in the region of $260 million, an all-time high for a soccer player.