Messi says “It’s a tough time” as speculation grows over his future in Miami
Things aren’t going well for Inter Miami or Lionel Messi right now, and rumors are swirling about what lies ahead for the Argentine star at the club.
When Messi first joined Inter Miami, everything seemed to be going smoothly—both on and off the pitch. But lately, the situation has taken a downturn. The team appears to have forgotten how to win, and Messi himself has looked like a shadow of his usual self in recent matches. He’s clearly feeling the pressure of this rough patch, though he’s also shown determination to turn things around. Still, discussions about his long-term future at the club continue to grow louder.
On Monday morning (Bangladesh time), Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 defeat at home against Orlando City in a Major League Soccer match. Despite having 65% possession, Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets failed to create significant scoring chances.
This was Miami’s first loss to Orlando in the Florida Derby in over two years and four matches. It also marked the first time Messi experienced defeat at the hands of his state rivals.
But the issues go beyond just one game. Miami has now lost five of their last seven matches across all competitions. After a promising start under new head coach Javier Mascherano—Messi and Suárez’s former Barcelona teammate—the team’s performances have dipped significantly. The defense, in particular, has been shaky, conceding 10 goals in the last three games alone.
Last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners are now down to sixth place in the Eastern Conference after 12 matches.
After the Orlando loss, Messi addressed the situation, acknowledging the challenges but also sharing his belief that the team can bounce back.
“It’s a tough time, but we will get through it,” said the captain. “Now is the moment to show how united we are as a team. We’re going through a rough patch.”
“When everything’s going smoothly, it all feels easy. But when hard times hit—like now—we need to be more united than ever. We must fight like a real team and come out the other side.”
Inter Miami is set to compete in the 32-team Club World Cup next month, and the club’s current poor form is clearly weighing on Messi’s mind. He’s hoping they can turn things around before stepping onto the global stage.
“We’ve had a few bad results recently,” Messi added. “But we have to keep working and focus on what lies ahead. We have three or four matches left in May. Our goal is to finish those games in the best possible way and go into the Club World Cup strong.”
Amid this turbulent run, speculation around Messi’s future has intensified. His two-and-a-half-year contract is set to expire at the end of this season. While Inter Miami has made it clear they want to keep the legend at least until 2026, Messi has yet to publicly confirm his plans.
His former Barcelona and now Miami teammate Jordi Alba recently extended his contract until 2027. Head coach Mascherano is hopeful Messi will follow suit.
“Hopefully, in a few weeks, we’ll have some news about Leo,” said Mascherano. “It would be hugely important for the club, for Major League Soccer, and for the fans.”
