Lionel Messi is highly unlikely to entertain a return to Barcelona as he approaches the end of his contract with Inter Miami, it's been claimed. Messi’s current contract expires at the end of 2025 and so,

Inter Miami sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 29 points (8-3-5), but holds four games in hand on most MLS teams after playing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Miami dropped out of the tournament in the round of 16 last Sunday with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

So, what will happen? The likeliest scenario is that Messi signs a new deal with Inter Miami ahead of the 2026 MLS season, which will secure his future through next summer's World Cup. Any big developments in Messi's playing career will occur after next summer, whether or not he lifts another World Cup crown.