Soccer god Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami) dreams of becoming a club owner.
In an interview with Argentine TV channel Roju on the 6th, Messi said, "I can't imagine myself becoming a coach at all. If I had to choose, I would like to be a club owner. I want to start from the ground up and grow the club myself."
He directly denied rumors that he would become a coach after retirement. Messi said, "I want to give children opportunities to grow and help them achieve something meaningful," revealing a future image of himself as "Messi with decision-making power," not "Messi in front of the tactical board."
Messi's "club owner experiment" has already become a reality. He teamed up with longtime teammate Luis Suárez to co-found Uruguay fourth-division club "Deportivo LSM." The club name comes from the initials of Suárez and Messi. It has grown into an organization with 80 full-time staff and 3,000 members.
Suárez emphasized, "A family dream that started in 2018 has become a reality. I want to provide opportunities for children and youth in Uruguay." Messi said, "I'm proud they chose me. I will contribute everything so this project continues to grow," effectively signaling long-term involvement in club operations.
Messi recently launched the under-16 international tournament "Messi Cup," which invites youth teams from around the world, expanding his influence across the entire football ecosystem. The inaugural tournament was won by River Plate.
Messi's final days as a player are approaching. He remained in MLS by extending his contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 season. He will be 41 when the contract ends.
Defending champion Inter Miami starts the 2026 season on Feb. 21 with a road match at Son Heung-min's LAFC. Messi will aim for a second consecutive title with Argentina at the CONCACAF–hosted World Cup.
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