Did We Just Witness Messi’s Last Global Performance?

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:04:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

**Did We Just Witness Messi’s Last Global Performance?**

Lionel Messi ends potentially his final international game with a striking display despite heavy defeat.

**At 38 years old, soccer legend Lionel Messi played in what could be his last match on the global stage, showcasing moments of brilliance notwithstanding a significant loss to PSG.**

Lionel Messi's recent performance at the Club World Cup might signal the end of an era for the soccer icon. The 38-year-old Argentine superstar faced off against his former club, Paris St-Germain, with Inter Miami suffering a decisive 4-0 loss. Fans, however, still flocked to see Messi, filling the stadium with over 65,000 attendees eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary player. Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano, acknowledged the allure Messi holds, even at this advanced stage of his career.

But as Messi's future looms uncertain, questions arise regarding whether this could be the last we see of him on such a large scale. His contract with Inter Miami runs until the conclusion of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, but speculation about his playing days beyond that remains rampant. While his Argentine teammates, Nicolas Otamendi and Luis Suarez, believe he'll continue on until the 2026 World Cup in North America, journalist Guillem Balague notes an enigmatic air about Messi's future, suggesting he remains undecided.

After achieving his career-defining goal of winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the pressure to perform seems to have shifted. Yet, in a moment during the match, when Messi stood poised over a free-kick late in the game, there was a collective hope from fans for him to reclaim that moments of brilliance - a hope that ended in disappointment when he struck the ball into the wall.

Despite this, he demonstrated his timeless skill with several key moments during the match, including a perfectly weighted pass that nearly set up a goal for Suarez, which went unfulfilled. His contributions to the game were notable, including attempts on goal and a blocked shot, showcasing the creativity and playmaking that has defined his career.

As Messi moves forward, it seems probable that his appearances in major international tournaments may be coming to a close, especially as the next Club World Cup isn’t scheduled until 2029 when he will be 42. As discussions of his retirement swirl, it's evident that football's landscape is shifting, but Messi's legacy as one of the sport's greatest players is firmly cemented. While he may soon take his final bow on the world stage, fans will always remember the magic he brought to the game.