Lionel Messi is likely to postpone retirement until at least after the 2026 World Cup, according to Inter Miami team-mate Luis Suarez.
Suarez, who was also part of the famous MSN trident alongside Messi and Neymar at Barcelona, has already stood down from international football but believes the Argentina captain wants to have a crack at helping his country defend the title they won in Qatar in 2022.
Asked in an interview with El Pais if the pair had discussed hanging up their boots, Suarez said: “We do talk [about it.] Jokingly, many times, but he [Messi] also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup. Obviously, after being away from the national team for a while, that desire is fading more on my side than on his.”
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Messi and Suarez still going strong with Inter Miami
Suarez and Messi continue to form a formidable partnership with Miami that has helped Javier Mascherano’s men to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League and an unbeaten start to the new MLS campaign.
The former Liverpool striker has no immediate plans to retire but knows it is not far away, although the lure of becoming one of the top 10 leading goalscorers of all-time – he is currently 34 goals short – could prolong his playing career.
He added: “Time will tell how long I’ll be able to do it [for], but I still have that flame of wanting to play, of wanting to compete.
“As long as that flame is lit I will want to continue competing until I can take it no longer. I don’t have a deadline of this [year] or the next. But as long as I’m still keen, still up to it and showing it, I’m going to continue enjoying it.
“Despite being 38 years old, I set my mind on reaching a figure which, for a Uruguayan footballer, would be something unique, something incredible, like finishing in the top 10 of the all-time leading goalscorers in football history.
“I try to enjoy it, I feel this desire to keep adding these aims to achieve them.”
Still a long way to go 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/3N2JMuB8Y3
— Luis Suárez (@LuisSuarez9) April 14, 2025
Suarez not ruling out new contract in Miami
For that to happen, he will have to sign a new contract with Miami and play on next season.
“If I feel capable and they [Inter Miami] see that I am capable of helping, they are willing [to renew],” he said. “But it [the season] has just started, we have been going for a couple of months, we are going to see how both the club and I finish the year, and then we will see what happens.
“I’m happy about the club’s current situation, that for the first time in its history it has reached the semifinals of the [Concacaf Champions Cup]. I’m really excited and enjoying the growth of the team.”
