Messi to end Argentina career as he builds a network of club investments
October 6, 2026 08:02
Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, on what will be his 208th cap. He announced his retirement from the national team on 31 August, six weeks after Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain, saying he had nothing more to give. Coach Lionel Scaloni has said Messi could return if he wanted to, but the Argentina chapter appears to be closing.
CLUB INVESTMENTS AND PLANS
Messi is preparing for a prolonged role inside football off the pitch. He bought UE Cornella — a fifth-tier club on the edge of Barcelona — in April and was announced as the owner of CD Eldense on 1 October, subject to authorisation from the Spanish sports council (CSD). Eldense will lead his football operation; the club appointed former Villarreal boss Javi Calleja as manager and is targeting survival rather than immediate promotion this season.
Messi and Luis Suárez co-founded Deportivo LSM in Uruguay in May 2025; that club won promotion to Uruguay's third tier in its first season. Plans for a wider network of clubs were discussed initially, but Messi and his advisers have stepped back from that idea because of the sums required to move teams up divisions.
LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT
Asked recently whether he would prefer to be a coach or an owner, Messi chose owner. He has said he would not be a hands-off investor: he wants to shape clubs' direction and be involved beyond simply appointing managers. For now he follows Eldense matches closely online and posted “Aupa Deportivo” on Instagram after Eldense beat Real Oviedo 4-1; the club has attracted around a dozen sponsors since his involvement was announced.
INTER MIAMI CONTRACT AND FUTURE SHARES
Messi's playing contract with Inter Miami runs to the end of the 2028 season and is reviewed year by year. As part of that contract, he will receive some shares in Inter Miami when he retires. He has said he used to imagine roles such as sporting director or adviser, but prefers ownership rather than the week-to-week demands of coaching.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Messi's immediate next event is the Benin friendly at the Monumental, where he will bid farewell to Argentina. CD Eldense's ownership move remains subject to CSD authorisation. Beyond that, whether Messi renews his Inter Miami contract beyond its annual reviews will depend on his physical and mental readiness.