Lionel Messi and a season full of commitments: from the dream with Inter Miami to the ideal ‘closure’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics

2024 officially begins for a Lionel Messi which will be June 24th 37 years old. It’s the age at which many retire from football or think about how to hang up their boots in the most decorous way possible. This is not the case with Leo, who has a year ahead of him. The one between the Argentine national team and this Inter Miami team, which is preparing to start its season, is full of commitments.

And there is great anticipation for what may happen here in the United States. Because Inter Miami will begin its first full season in super reinforced mode. It’s true that in his debut season in MLS, in 2022, he had Gonzalo Higuaín as a franchise player. But nothing compares to this team led by Messi, with Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets AND Jordi Alba like squires like in the good times of Barcelona and with the young blood that seems Facundo Farias, Thomas Aviles and the brand new reinforcement Federico Redondo.

The now global franchise, which has one of its owners, is betting on winning many tournaments in 2024. David Beckham. As well as MLS itself, the team that rules Gerardo Martino aims to increase the Concacaf Champions Cupwith the idea of ​​winning a ticket in Club World Cupand repeat in League Cupthe first trophy the club collected with Messi in superstar mode.

Messi, however, will try to continue the path of victory with the Argentine national team. It will also be here, in the United States, where the team he will manage will be located Lionel Scaloni They will play in a new Copa América and will try to defend the title won in 2021 at the Maracaná against Brazil and which was, in retrospect, Scaloneta’s first success.

The question is whether Leo will walk through the doors he has opened for him. Javier Mascherano to be one of three seniors who will seek Olympic gold at Paris 2024. The coach has made it clear that Leo has his place secured if he wants it. However, That tournament which will be played between the end of July and the beginning of August is not yet on Messi’s agenda..

As he found out Clarionthe decision is far from being made. Neither for yes nor for no. But the concrete thing is this it seems very far away. At the same time, totally conditioned for what could happen in the Copa América and also for the needs of Inter Miami.

The fact is that the Olympic football tournament, the one won by the young Messi in Beijing 2008, overlaps with the Leagues Cup and this overloaded calendar could conspire against Inter Miami’s plans. And also with the dosage of energy that the native of Rosario must bring in order not to expect the best from an organism that has been working for two decades.

Step by step, month after month, tournament after tournament. This will be Messi 2024. The idea is to think carefully about the passes. It is not yet known what he will do in 2025. And much less in 2026, where everyone is waiting for him to return to being a World Cup player to demolish all the records that have existed and will exist. We have to wait… But for now it seems difficult to imagine an Olympic Flea again.