Lionel Messi urged to take a break from 'parody of football' MLS before the World Cup

Martin Macdonald

• 1 Dec 2025 05:45 CST
• 3 min read

Nieuws

Lionel Messi has been urged to take a break from Major League Soccer duties before the 2026 World Cup next summer.

The Argentine superstar recently signed a contract extension with Inter Miami that will run for another couple of years which means he will be in the middle of the MLS fixture calendar by the time the World Cup comes around.

The MLS will complete a calendar overhaul to match that of elite European leagues - but that transition isn't happening until 2027.

Fernando Signorini, former fitness coach of the Argentina national team, believes Messi needs a "detox" before the World Cup, and had some rather scathing words to describe the MLS.

"Leo needs to prioritise the World Cup," Signorini told Super Radio Deportivo.

"He's caught up in this infernal record-breaking machine that I don't know the point of, because what he's doing now (Inter Miami) isn't football, it's a parody of football.

"With three months to go before the World Cup, he should take at least one month with his family to detox and come back with the hunger that the absence will surely cause him, but prioritise the World Cup and not think about playing every match from minute one."

Messi not yet confirmed for 2026 World Cup

Argentina have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup that will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They are defending champions, having claimed the famous gold trophy in Qatar in 2022.

Messi will again be key to their chances of winning, but the man himself hasn't yet confirmed he'll be participating.

"I don't want to be a burden, so to speak," the 38-year-old previously told Sport.

"I want to feel physically fit, to be sure I can help and contribute to the team. Our season is different from the European one. We'll have a pre-season in between, with few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we'll see how things go day by day to see if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I'd like to be and be able to participate.

"But obviously, I'm aware that it's a World Cup, and it's special, and that the World Cup is the biggest competition there is. So, I'm excited, but I'm taking it one day at a time."

Messi recently helped Inter Miami qualify of the MLS Cup Final.

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