Football matches - Messi experiences age-related strain under Olympic pressure.
The famed Argentine footballer, Lionel Messi, has announced that he won't be taking part in the Olympics and plans to call it quits on his football journey in Florida. Messi, who's 36, revealed his intentions during an interaction with US sports broadcaster ESPN, as he believes the demanding schedule would be a lot to handle.
Furthermore, Messi also shared his desire to conclude his career with Inter Miami, whose contract with him goes up to 2025. He noted, "I have to be cautious with my decisions, and playing in two tournaments back-to-back would've been too much. I was lucky enough to participate and win gold at the Olympics." At this age, it's not easy for him to juggle between different competitions. Messi's gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was a team effort with his current Olympic coach, Javier Mascherano. He finds the Olympics to be a unique experience.
Messi aims to feature in the Copa America final on July 14
As of now, Messi is getting ready with the Argentine national team in the US for defending their Copa America title. On July 14, his team will play against Jesse Marsch's squad in Atlanta. Remarkably, that's the day of the Euro final in Germany. Seeing as the Olympic football tournament will commence on July 24, Messi has a lot on his mind.
Messi has been outstanding for Miami since he joined in July 2023, scoring 11 goals and setting up 12 assists in 12 matches. His team presently leads the Eastern Conference.
Miami is where Messi wants to finish his career
Messi is convinced that Miami will be his last destination as a footballer. "I believe Miami will be my last club. Moving from Europe to here was a challenging transition. It helped me become a world champion and see things through a different lens," he confessed.
Messi is already contemplating his retirement, reflecting on the beautiful moments he's had in his career, "That's why I try to savor everything. I'm aware that the end is approaching, and I want to relish the ride."
