Lionel Messi’s side Inter Miami recently got out of the playoff contentions as their hopes to go through to the next round of MLS collapsed after facing a 1-0 defeat at the hands of FC Cincinnati last week.
In Messi’s absence, Miami struggled to win matches, securing only a single victory without their World Cup-winning Argentine captain due to his injury. Amid the release of his new documentary, a return to Barcelona is rumored but perhaps is not as plausible as it originally seemed.
“Messi meets America” draws mixed reviews
In the summer, Lionel Messi made his sensational switch to Inter-Miami from French giants Paris Saint Germain shocking fans around the world, as Miami co-owner David Beckham convinced him to join his club.
The arrival of the World Cup winner in Major League Soccer has significantly boosted the league’s global visibility, leading to a substantial increase in viewership numbers and buzz. Messi has brought glory to the club since making his debut.
Recently Apple TV released a new documentary series on the seven-time Ballon Dor winner, titled “Messi meets America” based on his transfer to inter-Miami and the league cup triumph campaign in August which was their club’s first-ever title in franchise history.
The documentary has drawn mixed reviews from the audience and fans. Some believe it is just another marketing series campaign rather than a documentary since the focus remains on the glorification of league clubs and MLS.
Overall, the documentary sheds light on insights into Messi’s arrival and how David Beckham convinced him to join MLS instead of any other European clubs, or for that matter, continue at PSG. Additionally, it reveals the impact Messi had on the squad.
Moreover, it connects the sentiments of the Latino community in Miami, in and around the club, since Messi is an icon in South America not just in Argentina. Yet on occasions, it feels more like a promotional campaign.
Messi’s Barcelona return hits major roadblock
Lionel Messi has been linked with Barcelona ever since he left his boyhood club in 2021 to join PSG. After Messi refused to extend his stay in Paris, it was believed that a Camp Nou return was a possibility, as the Barcelona board also hinted their intention to bring him back.
Now that Inter Miami is out of the playoff run, there were rumors of a loan deal to FC Barcelona. But according to Spanish journalist and football expert Guillem Balague, he has clearly denied the reports, saying, ‘Messi will have around one month of holiday, like other footballers. So forget any move to Saudi or similar.’ Hence, he will be continuing with the MLS side.
It seems Barcelona fans will not get to welcome their former talisman home anytime soon as speculated before.
