Just two years after leaving PSG, Lionel Messi could already be approaching the end of his extraordinary career. At 39, the former Paris No. 30 is reportedly seriously considering hanging up his boots for good at the end of 2026, despite having a contract with Inter Miami that runs well beyond then.
Could Lionel Messi soon be leaving football behind for good? The Argentine, who played for Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023, is reportedly considering ending his professional career much sooner than expected. According to information revealed by Footy Headlines on Sunday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is seriously considering retiring at the end of 2026. However, the outlet stresses that no final decision has yet been made and that the information, which comes from a source it describes as reliable, still needs to be confirmed.
Messi’s PSG Record: 75 Games and 32 Goals
A potential retirement would bring the curtain down on a career that has included spells at FC Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami. In Paris, Messi made 75 official appearances and scored 32 goals between 2021 and 2023, as PSG itself notes. He arrived on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 following his dramatic departure from Barça and spent two seasons in the French capital alongside the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. It was a mixed spell in Paris before he left on a free transfer for Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.
Since then, Messi has continued his career in the United States, but it could now end much sooner than expected. Footy Headlines reports that any potential retirement would come well before 2028, although it is currently unable to provide a precise date. The timing is significant, as Messi has already entered a period of farewells. Adidas and Argentina have recently unveiled a special collection surrounding his final appearance with the Albiceleste, scheduled against Benin on October 6.
After seeing Neymar move away from the highest level of European football and Messi leave for the United States, PSG could soon see one of the greatest stars ever to play at the Parc des Princes bring his career to a definitive end. For now, however, caution is required: Messi is considering the possibility, but his retirement at the end of 2026 has not yet been confirmed.
