When Will Lionel Messi Retire?

Lionel Messi: When Will He Retire?

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and he has led Barcelona to multiple La Liga and Champions League titles. But how much longer will we be able to enjoy watching Messi play?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Messi himself has said that he wants to continue playing for as long as possible, but he has also acknowledged that his body will eventually give out.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the factors that will likely impact Messi’s decision on when to retire. We will also discuss some of the potential challenges that he may face in his later years.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the factors that will likely influence Messi’s retirement decision. You will also have a better understanding of the challenges that he may face in his later years.

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Date Event Details
2023 Retirement Messi will reportedly retire from professional football at the end of the 2022-23 season.

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Messi’s playing career

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards, and is the only player to have won the award four times consecutively. He has also won the European Golden Shoe a record six times, and is the all-time top scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina.

Debut for Barcelona

Messi made his debut for Barcelona’s first team in a friendly match against Porto on 16 November 2003, at the age of 16 years and 145 days. He became the youngest player to play for Barcelona in La Liga on 16 May 2004, aged 17 years and 3 days. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Albacete on 1 May 2005.

Club career statistics

Messi has played for Barcelona his entire professional career. He has made over 700 appearances for the club, scoring over 600 goals. He has won a total of 35 trophies with Barcelona, including ten La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and three Copa del Rey titles.

International career statistics

Messi has represented Argentina at the senior level since 2005. He has made over 150 appearances for the national team, scoring over 70 goals. He has helped Argentina win the Copa Amrica on three occasions, and the Olympic gold medal in 2008.

Awards and honours

Messi has won a total of 71 trophies in his career, including 35 with Barcelona and 36 with Argentina. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record six times, and is the only player to have won the award four times consecutively. He has also won the European Golden Shoe a record six times, and is the all-time top scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina.

Messi’s retirement rumors

There have been rumors of Messi retiring from football for many years. In 2016, he said that he would retire at the age of 34. However, he has since backtracked on this statement, saying that he would play until he is no longer able to compete at the highest level.

History of retirement rumors

The first rumors of Messi retiring from football surfaced in 2008, after he had a public falling out with then-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. Messi was unhappy with Guardiola’s decision to drop him from the starting lineup for several important matches. He said at the time that he would leave Barcelona if Guardiola remained as manager.

However, Guardiola left Barcelona at the end of the 2008-09 season, and Messi remained at the club. He went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 2009, and helped Barcelona win the Champions League.

In 2016, Messi again said that he would retire at the age of 34. He said that he was tired of the constant pressure of playing at the highest level, and that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

However, he has since backtracked on this statement, saying that he would play until he is no longer able to compete at the highest level.

Recent retirement rumors

In recent years, there have been renewed rumors of Messi retiring from football. These rumors have been fueled by his struggles at Barcelona in recent seasons. Barcelona have not won the Champions League since 2015, and they have finished outside the top two in La Liga in each of the last two seasons.

Messi has also been linked with a move away from Barcelona in recent years. He has been courted by a number of clubs, including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Messi has said that he is happy at Barcelona, and that he has no plans to leave the club. He has also said that he would like to win the Champions League one more time before he retires.

Possible reasons for retirement

There are a number of possible reasons why Messi might retire from football. These include:

  • Age: Messi is now 34 years old, and he is starting to show signs of slowing down. He is no longer as quick as he used to be, and he is not as able to withstand the physical demands of playing at the highest level.
  • Injuries: Messi has suffered a number of injuries in recent years, including a serious knee injury in 2017. These injuries have limited his playing time, and they have also taken a toll on his body.
  • Family: Messi has a wife

3. Impact of Messi’s retirement

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his retirement would have a significant impact on the world of football.

On Barcelona

Messi has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona, and he is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker. He has helped Barcelona win a total of 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

Messi’s retirement would be a huge blow to Barcelona, both on and off the pitch. On the pitch, Messi is the team’s talisman and goalscorer, and his absence would leave a huge void to fill. Off the pitch, Messi is one of the club’s biggest assets, and his retirement would likely lead to a drop in revenue from merchandise sales and ticket sales.

On Argentina

Messi has also been a key player for the Argentina national team, helping them win the Copa Amrica in 2021. He is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer, and his retirement would be a major setback for their chances of winning the World Cup in 2022.

On world football

Messi’s retirement would have a global impact on football. He is one of the most popular and marketable players in the world, and his absence would leave a void in the sport. Messi’s retirement would also likely lead to a decline in the number of people watching football, both at the stadium and on television.

4. What next for Messi?

Messi has not yet announced his plans for after he retires from playing, but there are a number of possibilities.

Possible retirement plans

Messi has said that he would like to stay involved in football after he retires, and he has expressed interest in coaching or management. He could also become a pundit or ambassador for a football club or brand.

Possible coaching or management roles

Messi has the experience and knowledge to be a successful coach or manager. He has played under some of the best coaches in the world, and he has learned from them how to lead a team and win trophies. Messi could also use his experience to help young players develop their skills.

Other potential career paths

Messi could also pursue other career paths after he retires from playing. He could become a businessman, an actor, or a philanthropist. He could also use his fame and fortune to help others, such as by starting a foundation or charity.

Lionel Messi’s retirement would be a major loss for the world of football. He is one of the greatest players of all time, and his absence would leave a void that would be difficult to fill. However, Messi’s retirement would also create opportunities for other players to step up and become the next stars of the game.

Question 1: When will Messi retire?

Answer: There is no definitive answer to this question, as Messi has not publicly announced his plans for the future. However, based on his current age and playing style, it is likely that he will retire within the next few years.

Question 2: What will Messi do after he retires?

Answer: There are a number of possibilities for what Messi could do after he retires. He could continue to work in the world of football, either as a coach, manager, or ambassador. He could also pursue other interests, such as business or philanthropy.

Question 3: What will be the impact of Messi’s retirement on Barcelona?

Answer: Messi’s retirement would have a significant impact on Barcelona. He is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and has won numerous trophies with the team. His departure would leave a big hole in the team’s attack and would make it more difficult for them to compete for major trophies.

Question 4: What will be the impact of Messi’s retirement on world football?

Answer: Messi’s retirement would be a major loss for world football. He is one of the greatest players of all time and has inspired fans around the world. His departure would leave a void in the game that would be difficult to fill.

Question 5: What are some of the best moments of Messi’s career?

Answer: Messi has had many memorable moments throughout his career. Some of his best moments include:

  • Scoring the winning goal in the 2009 Champions League final
  • Winning the Ballon d’Or for a record six times
  • Leading Argentina to the World Cup final in 2014
  • Scoring 50 goals in a single La Liga season

Question 6: What is the legacy of Messi’s career?

Answer: Messi’s legacy is one of greatness. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, and his achievements will be remembered for years to come. He has inspired fans around the world and has helped to make football a more popular sport.

there is no definitive answer to the question of when Lionel Messi will retire. However, based on his current age and playing style, it is likely that he will continue to play at the highest level for at least a few more years. He is still one of the best players in the world, and he is still enjoying playing the game. When he does eventually retire, it will be a sad day for football fans around the world. But until then, we can enjoy watching him continue to do what he does best: play beautiful, magical football.

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Kane Whitaker
Kane Whitaker
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