Lionel Messi has opened up on his retirement, which is on the horizon, with business ventures very much on his radar as he and rival Cristiano Ronaldo both near the end of their careers
Lionel Messi admits “at some point, it comes to an end” as he faced up to the prospect of retirement, with the 38-year-old stating that he’s eyeing up a career in business post-football.
The Argentine superstar has just penned a new contract with Inter Miami, keeping him in Florida. Messi has continued to prove that he can excel on the pitch and has carried the MLS outfit at times whilst a World Cup is now less than a year away.
The forward, who finally achieved his World Cup dream in Qatar in 2022, called time on his stint in Europe two years ago, with Inter Miami seen as him playing out the twilight years of his career. His continued impressive performances have led to talk of him pushing back his retirement and he’s now committed to the MLS side until 2028.
Messi, though, accepts that father time is catching up with him and he’s having to turn his head to what his life would look like post-football.
Speaking at the American Business Forum he said: “I’ve had a very long sporting career – I still do – and I’ve always had trusted people around me who took care of those things for me. But lately, I’ve become much more interested in what’s being done and what can be done. Unfortunately, football has an expiration date. At some point, it comes to an end.“
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner added: “I like to start looking at what could come next. I like the business world; I want to keep learning. I’m just getting started with it. I’ve always been 100 per cent dedicated to my profession, but I know that something else is coming — another world — and little by little, I’m getting involved.”
Messi has continued to grow his business portfolio. What began with his MiM Hotels chain has since grown to include The Messi Store, his energy drink brand Más+, and investments in the restaurant franchise El Club de la Milanesa, among other ventures.
His great rival Cristiano Ronaldo will retire from football after the World Cup, according to his former team-mate Nani. Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 40, but is clearly nearing the end of his career.
Ronaldo told Piers Morgan this week that he will “soon” hang up his boots following a trophy-laden career but is ready for what comes next, whilst admitting it will be an emotional farewell.
He said: “I prepare my future since [the age of] 25, 26, 27 years old, I prepare [for] my future. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure.”
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