What is next for Lionel Messi after Argentina’s Conmebol World Cup qualifiers?

Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team will be leaders of the Conmebol qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup until next September, after a historic win at the legendary Maracana stadium thanks to Nicolas Otamendi’s goal.

La Albiceleste’s win was Brazil first ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier, while for Argentina the victory was the second in a row by a scoreline of 1-0 against Brazil in official games, after winning the Copa América final in 2021.

The Argentina players will now return to their respective clubs, however, Messi’s season has already finished.

Messi’s plan

Speaking to Argentine TV, Messi revealed that after finishing his own 2023 campaign, he will return to Miami for a few more weeks before travelling to Argentina for a holiday ahead of the start of pre-season in January with Inter Miami.

“I will stay a little longer in Miami because the kids go to school there and then we will go to Argentina to prepare for the pre-season to face the 2024 season with all the energy and strength possible,” said Messi.

This is how Messi officially ends his 2023, a year that saw him join MLS side Inter Miami, a team with which he won the Leagues Cup, but also failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Messi hits out on what happened before game

Messi also shared through his Instagram account a strong message in which in addition to celebrating the victory at the Maracana, he criticised the authorities for the treatment that some fans of La Albiceleste received before the game.

“This team continues to make history... Great victory at the Maracana, although it will be marked by the repression of Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can’t be tolerated, it’s madness and it has to stop now,” he wrote.

With Argentina’s win over Brazil, Messi has ended his year on a high.