Lionel Messi has signed for Inter Miami, bringing an end to his European career. Despite rumours of a loan move back to Barcelona, it appears any hopes of a romantic return are now over – and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will play in the MLS next season.
The majority of Messi’s sensational career was played out at Barcelona, having moved to Catalunya in early 2001. His meteoric rise to stardom saw him break onto the scene in 2005, when a handful of Italian clubs offered to pay his €150m release clause – though Barça stood firm.
After almost two decades in the famous shirt of the Blaugrana, Messi left Catalunya ahead of the 2021/22 season. He had appeared 772 times for Barcelona, scoring 672 goals and offering countless assists.
With a desire to test himself in a different league, Messi pursued a move to Paris Saint-Germain. In the French capital, he made 75 appearances – scoring 32 goals across all competitions. Unfortunately though, the Argentine has fallen out of favour with les Parisiens recently, after an unauthorised trip abroad.
Messi’s move to the MLS will undoubtedly propel the league into the spotlight, as one of the world’s best graces the American stage on a weekly basis. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté now plying their trade in Saudi Arabia, could this spell the end of European football’s dominance – with players preferring to opt for an inflated salary elsewhere?
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