Any skepticism over Lionel Messi's ability to turn around Inter Miami's early-season struggle should begin and end with a consideration of what LaLiga champion coach Xavi believed of the 35-year-old's prospective return to Barcelona.
As soon as Barcelona president Joan Laporta informed him that the club was negotiating a contract to bring Messi back to Spain, Xavi made Messi his top priority because he believed Messi still had the ability to elevate the team to a new level the following season.
He will be 36 years old next month, and nobody expects him to replicate the extraordinary effort he made to win the World Cup in Qatar in a club shirt throughout the course of an entire season. However, his statistics from Paris Saint-Germain speak for themselves, and he will be the best player in the MLS regardless of his age.
During his final few games for the French Champions, Messi may have received a lot of jeers, but that had nothing to do with
Messi will also be inspired. He does not believe that he is only a season or two away from retiring. He believes that more history will be created. He hopes to compete in the Copa America next summer. Beyond that, he hasn't ruled out playing in another World Cup.
He believes it is not out of the question for him to compete in the North American-hosted tournament in 2026 and make it a remarkable six World Cup finals. No player has ever advanced past five.
Additionally, he has the positional versatility that has helped him throughout his career and will help him achieve his goal of making another World Cup finals participation at the age of 39.
With his ability to play the final pass properly utilized, the long-standing expectations that he may develop into a midfielder in the mold of Xavi have the potential to eventually come true, regardless of how he is employed in Miami.
He received criticism during his final season at Barcelona for failing to run when the team did not have possession, but he spectacularly demonstrated during the World Cup that he is still capable of making sprints when it counts.
And all Inter Miami followers should be as excited by the thought of him operating deeper and developing the play as others make the runs as Barcelona supporters were when they began to think he would return to Spain.
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