Owner, businessman & player: Messi has big plans as a golden era ends

What the report says

Lionel Messi is preparing for what BBC Sport says will be his final appearance for Argentina, a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires that would bring his international total to 208 matches. The report describes the 39-year-old as Argentina’s record scorer and most-capped player, and says the national-team farewell comes after he previously signaled that he had nothing more to give. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has left open the possibility of a change of heart, but the article suggests that chapter is effectively closing.

The piece says Messi’s club career will continue with Inter Miami, where his contract runs through the end of the 2028 season and is reviewed annually. Beyond playing, BBC Sport reports that Messi is building a wider role in football ownership. It says he has acquired UE Cornella in Spain’s fifth tier and is linked to CD Eldense in the Spanish second division, with plans to operate both through trusted intermediaries. It also notes his involvement with Deportivo LSM in Uruguay and his expected future stake in Inter Miami.

The article adds that Messi’s interests extend well beyond the pitch. It points to youth tournaments, including the Messi Cup in Florida, and to business holdings in hotels, property, restaurants and endorsements. BBC Sport frames this as part of a broader transition: as his Argentina era ends, Messi appears set to remain active in football while expanding as an owner and investor.