Sports
Messi admits he cannot see himself coaching after retirement
The Inter Miami star has other plans for when he finally calls it quits on his playing career
Lionel Messi has ruled out a future in coaching, saying he does not see himself taking that path once his playing career comes to an end and would instead prefer to focus on ownership and long-term development within the sport.
The Inter Miami captain explained that building a club from the ground up appeals to him far more than working on the touchline.
“I don’t see myself as a coach,” Messi said in an interview with Argentine streaming channel Luzu TV. “I like the idea of being a manager, but I’d prefer to be an owner. I’d like to have my own club, start from the bottom, and make it grow. To be able to give the kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that’s what would appeal to me most.”
Messi recently committed his future to Inter Miami by signing a contract extension that runs through the 2028 MLS season, ensuring he will remain an active player for at least the next few years.
Away from the pitch, however, he has already taken his first steps into club ownership. Alongside longtime friend and former team-mate Luis Suarez, Messi helped launch Uruguayan fourth-division side Deportivo LSM, a project that began several years ago and has grown steadily since.
“Deportivo LS is a family dream that began in 2018. We have grown a lot with more than 3,000 members,” Suarez said. “I want to offer Uruguayan soccer, the place I love and where I grew up as a child, opportunities and tools for teenagers and children to grow.”
The initiative was originally led by Suarez before Messi agreed to join the project, a decision that further strengthened their long-standing partnership.
“I’m proud and happy that you chose me, so I hope to contribute everything I can to continue growing and, above all, to be by your side in this,” Messi said during the club’s announcement.
Messi has also expanded his involvement in youth development through the launch of the Messi Cup, an under-16 international tournament held in Miami that brought together academy teams from around the world. The inaugural edition concluded in December, with River Plate defeating Atletico Madrid in the final.
For now, Messi’s focus remains firmly on his playing career.
As the defending MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami will begin their 2026 campaign away to LAFC on February 21.
