What’s Next for Messi After a Disappointing Summer?

Argentina lost the trophy to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Before he could recover from the shock, Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario and faced an even bigger tragedy—he lost his father, Jorge Messi.

At the age of 39, the future of Messi’s football career is now largely uncertain.

A report in The Athletic has detailed what Messi has been going through since his 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final. It paints a picture of a footballer who is trying to hold on to the football field despite the extreme hardships of his personal life.

And that’s where the biggest question arises: What does Messi actually want to do now?

Messi, like the rest of the Argentina team, did not return home immediately after the World Cup final. However, when he returned to Rosario a few days later, he was seen in the gallery watching a very ordinary local match.

It had nothing to do with the atmosphere of that glorious World Cup final in New Jersey.

Instead of playing in front of millions of international spectators, Messi was sitting among ordinary fans in a small stadium near his home. Football, which has never left him since the beginning of his career, was still with him.

But even more difficult times lay ahead!

Jorge Messi died on August 8 at the age of 68.

His father played a huge role in Messi’s development as a footballer. From his early days in Rosario to his decision to move to Barcelona, ​​which changed Messi’s entire life, he was there like a shadow at every step.

After his father’s death, Messi himself admitted that he didn’t know for sure how long he would continue playing. His comment was very significant.

Until now, Messi’s future has been about new trophies, contract numbers or on-field performance. But now the matter has taken the form of a completely personal dilemma. Does he still want to bear the immense pressure and expectations that come with the name ‘Messi’?

For now, it seems the answer is ‘yes’.

After enduring the shock of the World Cup, he returned to the field for Inter Miami and did not stop playing even after his father’s death. He even scored goals on the field.

But that doesn’t mean that everything is set for his future.

Inter Miami have been struggling with a lack of consistency recently, and the club have now appointed Cristian ‘Kili’ Gonzalez as their new head coach. The former Argentina star’s main responsibility will be to get the best out of Messi and the team’s other experienced stars.

For Miami, keeping Messi physically fit and mentally motivated will be equally important.

Even at this age, Messi has the ability to single-handedly change the fate of a match, but it must be remembered that he is now 39. It is unfair to expect him to carry the entire team single-handedly every week like before.

If Messi plays until the end of his current contract, Miami will have to build a team that will support him—the days of relying solely on him are over.

But what about the national team Argentina? That’s the real question.

There was uncertainty about Messi’s future in international football before the World Cup. If he decides to retire from the national team after playing in another final at the age of 39, it would be a very natural move.

And if he continues on that path, then plans will have to be made to build a team without the man around whom the Argentine football team has revolved for two long decades.

Of course, there is no shortage of footballers ready to take on big responsibilities. Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martinez can lead the attack, and the youngsters will also have to take on additional responsibilities.

However, Messi can no longer be considered just a striker, so finding his replacement will not be that easy.

For a long time, Argentina’s entire style of play has been built around Messi. His ability to create chances, control the pace of the match and perform miracles from scratch has been the real key to all of Argentina’s successes.

Added to this is the uncertainty over the future of coach Lionel Scaloni. If both Scaloni and Messi step down, the new chapter of Argentina’s international football will undergo a huge change.

However, Messi is in no hurry to make a final decision right now.

He has won everything there is to win in football. He has won the World Cup, Copa America, the Champions League and has also won the Ballon d’Or eight times.

He has a contract with Inter Miami until 2028, giving him plenty of time to decide his future.

The most comforting thing is that, despite the sad times that summer, when football brought him both extreme disappointment and solace, he still wants to continue playing.

However, no one can say for sure how long this journey will last.

Messi has spent his life chasing the next match, the next trophy. At 39, with the loss of his father and the bitterness of another World Cup final defeat, he has nothing new to prove. The real question is: does he still have that old hunger to play?

For now, Messi is still on the field. And for football fans, that’s probably enough for now.