Miami International performed poorly, where does Messi go in the future?

If an athlete wants to maintain a high level of competitive state for a long time, the training and competition environment he is in is crucial. This is not only a technical issue, but also a matter of the intensity of the game, the rhythm of the confrontation and the concentration at the spiritual level. This is the problem Messi is facing now.

He has had a pleasant life in Miami and has led the team to some success, such as in this Club World Cup, they even beat Porto in Europe, which is a historic breakthrough for the entire Major League Soccer League. But when they actually encounter European top-notch, smooth-running tactical machines like Paris Saint-Germain, the gap is clearly revealed. A 0-4 loss shows the huge gap in overall rhythm and intensity between the two leagues.

When we watched that game, Messi was still able to give away a wonderful pass like he was to Suarez, which shows that his talent and football quotient are still there. But football is the sport of eleven people. When his teammates around him are unable to be on the same frequency as him in terms of the speed of off-ball running, tactical understanding and offensive and defensive conversion, his personal power will be greatly weakened. As Ibrahimovic said, the responsibility he bears alone is too heavy when his teammates cannot provide enough support.

This is a very realistic hidden danger for Messi himself and the Argentine team who is determined to defend the World Cup. If a player plays in a relatively comfortable and less intense environment for a long time, his physical and mental state will naturally relax. When he returns to the World Cup where every inch of space is required to compete for every inch of space and every round requires extreme concentration, can he still adapt to the highest intensity immediately? This is a big question mark.

So, it has been reported that he may return to Barcelona briefly after his contract expires at the end of the year. Behind this rumor, there is actually a very clear competitive logic. If Messi really wants to participate in the 2026 World Cup in a good state, then it is a very reasonable choice to return to the highest level of European leagues in the half season before the start of the World Cup to maintain its shape.

Let's look at the option to return to Barcelona. If he goes back, his role will be completely different from before. Barcelona's current forward line includes Yamal and Rafinia, and the center is Lewandowski, who has strong attack power. Messi doesn't need to bear as much pressure as he used to go back. His role is more likely to be a frontcourt organizer and "mentor".

Head coach Flick can put him in a No. 10 position and let him use his experience, vision and passes to connect the entire frontcourt. He can guide young people like Yamal to help them read the competition better and make more reasonable decisions. Let's imagine that Messi took the ball in the middle and handed it to Lewandowski, and at the same time made exquisite cooperation with Yamal around him. This kind of scene is a huge threat to any opponent. This will also allow Messi to maximize the role of his "football brain" without consuming too much physical energy.

Of course, this return is very difficult to operate. The most important thing is Barcelona's financial problems. Their salary cap is a very realistic obstacle. But for the Barcelona club, it also has a huge appeal to have their legend complete the final farewell at the New Camp Nou Stadium in the most decent way.

So, this choice is a major decision for Messi about the last chapter of his career. Should I choose to live a comfortable life in Miami or to defend the World Cup for the ultimate dream, and then return to the harshest battlefield and accept the last challenge.