Lionel Messi to follow David Beckham retirement plan after hanging up the boots

Robin Bairner

• 9 Jan 2026 07:32 CST
• 3 min read

Nieuws

Lionel Messi has revealed his retirement plans when he finally quits professional football, with the all-time great setting his eyes on another ambitious project when he hangs up his boots.

The Inter Miami attacker still has two years left on his contract with the MLS franchise, and he has revealed that he would like to follow in the footsteps of Sir David Beckham by becoming the owner of a club.

In his latest contract with the Florida club, the 38-year-old will be entitled to a minority stake at the club, offering him some influence on the team’s sporting and commercial departments. But it seems that Messi has grander plans yet.

“I don't see myself as a coach. I even like the idea, but I prefer being an owner. I want to have my own club, start from scratch and make it great. To be able to give children the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that would excite me more,” hold told Argentine channel Luzu TV.

Messi already has some limited experience of ownership. Leones FC are led by the player’s brother, Matias, and play in the Argentine fourth division, while the Barcelona great also helped to create Deportivo LSM in Uruguay, Luis Suarez’s team.

Lionel Messi: I have a stranger side

Messi previously admitted that he is uncomfortable about finding himself in the media away from his football.

“I don't like people talking about me in ways other than playing football,” he admitted.

“I've always been organised. With my training clothes, my football stuff.

“I don't like people touching me; I have to know where everything is. I've been like this since I was little.

“The truth is, I have a stranger side; I really like being alone. My mood depends on many things, on little things, details.

“I'm very structured; if I have my day organised a certain way, and something happens in the middle of it...”

Messi continues to perform to an outstanding level, leading Inter Miami to their first MLS title in 2025, scoring 35 goals and creating 23 more in 34 appearances across the regular season and playoffs.

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