Stunning revelation about Messi's final retirement timing

Follow-up – Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper

Footy Headlines dropped a bombshell about the future of Argentine legend Lionel Messi, revealing that the Inter Miami star is seriously considering permanently retiring from professional football at the end of 2026, despite his current contract with the American club running until the end of the 2027-2028 season.

The site said the information is not yet 100% officially confirmed, but came to it from a source it described as reliable, noting that talk behind the scenes about the possibility of Messi ending his professional career before the date specified in his contract has begun to gain traction. 

The report stressed that the retirement, if it does happen, would come much earlier than the end of Messi's contract with Inter Miami, bringing to a close a career that has lasted more than two decades at the highest levels of football and seen him shine for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.

These reports follow a confirmed step Messi has already taken, announcing his retirement from international football with Argentina after the 2026 World Cup final. 

Despite announcing his international retirement, it has been decided that the No. 10 will appear one last time for his national team in a farewell match on Argentine soil.

The Argentine Football Association confirmed that Messi will play his final match in the Argentina shirt against Benin on October 6, at the Monumental Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires.