Lionel Messi
, the 36-year-old
Argentina
captain, has announced that
Inter Miami
will be the final club of his illustrious career. The forward, who joined the Major League Soccer side last summer after a stint with Paris St Germain, has a contract with the club until 2025.
In an interview with ESPN, Messi expressed his love for the game but admitted feeling "a little bit scared" at the thought of the day he eventually hangs up his boots.
"Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left," Messi stated.
"I'm not ready to leave football. I've done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches... And yes, there's always a little bit of fear that it's all over."
Despite his fears surrounding retirement, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner emphasized that he is not yet ready to bid farewell to the sport that has been an integral part of his life.
Currently, Messi is focused on preparing with the Argentine national team to defend their
Copa America
title.
The tournament is set to commence on June 20 in the United States, with Argentina facing Canada in the opening match. The team will then take on their Group A rivals, Chile, on June 25, followed by a clash against Peru four days later.
(With Reuters inputs)
English (US) ·