How Messi Proved the "Retirement League" Critics Wrong

The Magic Moment: Messi Back in the World Cup Final

Imagine the final whistle blows on a Wednesday afternoon. Lionel Messi, age 39, drops to his knees and screams. Why? Because he is going back to the World Cup final with his home country, Argentina!

Just three years before this, Messi told the world he was joining Inter Miami, a team in MLS (Major League Soccer, which is the top soccer league in the United States). Right away, some people said, "Oh, he’s just going to semi-retirement" (meaning they thought he was slowing down and just playing easy soccer before quitting).

But here is what actually happened:

• Barcelona (his old team in Spain) made a passive-aggressive statement. That means they said something that sounded polite but was actually a little mean. Their president, Joan Laporta, said he "understood and respected" Messi’s choice to play in a league with "fewer demands" and less pressure.
• An English commentator named Chris Sutton said on a podcast that Messi was "washed up" (like an old toy nobody wants) just like another famous player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Sutton said they were not as good as before.
• Sutton also said: "If he had serious ambition, he would have gone back to Barcelona."

Important Point: Even though people doubted him, Messi is now about to possibly win the Golden Ball (the award for the best player) in his second World Cup in a row! And on Sunday, he will lead Argentina to try to win the World Cup again. If they do, they will be the first team to repeat as champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Why Messi in MLS Helps the League

For MLS, Messi’s World Cup success is a huge help. It closes the "perception gap." That just means the difference between what people around the world think of the league and what it is actually like.

For Messi, it proves what he said before moving to Miami:

• "My mentality and my head will not change," he told an Argentinian TV show.
• "I will try to give my best for myself and for my new club and continue to perform at the highest level."

Lionel Messi leaps as part of his emphatic goal celebration vs. Egypt in the World Cup round of 16 (Carlos Barria / Reuters)

The Truth About Messi’s Competitive Spirit

The people who criticized Messi’s move to MLS did not understand how Messi works. It is not just that he hates losing (though he does, a lot!).

• Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said: "He’s a competitive beast. All he wants to do is win."
• Messi knows his legacy (how people will remember him forever) is always being judged. Playing in MLS did not change that.
• When he plays—or even when he doesn’t—it makes news all over the world. For example:
  • He didn’t show up to a friendly match (a casual game) in Hong Kong in 2024, and it caused an international complaint.
  • His absence in Vancouver led to lawsuits (people taking legal action).
  • In a 2024 preseason game, he played only 7 minutes in a 6-0 loss to Ronaldo’s team. Ronaldo didn’t even play. Still, headlines said "Al-Nassr humiliate Messi’s Inter Miami." Messi got blamed!

After that game, Messi was angry in the locker room and told his teammates:

"We should want to play these games. If you guys don’t wake up, we’ll go home now."

His assistant, Javier Morales, said Messi is "insatiable" (never satisfied). He wants to win everything—even a card game or a small training match. He understands the difference between big leagues and MLS, but he just wants to win no matter where he is.

Waiting for the Right Moment

Messi waited a long time before saying he would play for Argentina in the World Cup. He didn’t want to just show up and sit there. He wanted to be the real Messi and help his team win.

To get ready, he did extra training sessions and dominated (won a lot) in internal competitions at Miami. This shows his mentality—but also shows what Miami gave him that he might not have had elsewhere.

Messi said in an Apple documentary:

• "Soccer became difficult, but I was always happy playing and having fun like when I was a kid."
• "I can keep doing it here, which was one of the reasons I made the decision. To enjoy again what I had lost."

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami hoist the 2025 MLS Cup trophy (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)

MLS Fights the "Retirement League" Label

MLS has tried to shake off the nickname "retirement league" (a place where old players go to finish their careers) even though they do sign older players.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said:

"Criticism is easy, courage is hard. It was courageous to sign Leo, and for him to come. To walk away from a huge payday and show he can win in Miami and be the best at the World Cup at 39. The ‘retirement league’ idea was lazy because we sign hundreds of young players too. I’ve learned to ignore the noise and lean into strategy."

That strategy is now about star power (big famous players).

Because Messi was so popular and made money, other teams signed bigger names like:

• Son Heung-min (LAFC)
• Thomas Müller (Vancouver)
• Marco Reus (LA Galaxy)
• Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire)
• Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City)
• Maybe soon Casemiro (Inter Miami)

The league still needs big names to get attention. They are also thinking about changing rules to spend more money and improve quality, plus a calendar flip to join the transfer market (where teams buy and sell players) better.

Important Point: Messi’s World Cup performance makes all of this stronger. The league’s slogan after the World Cup is "Thanks world, we’ll take it from here." Now MLS can confidently say: players can come here and still be the best in the world—something only Messi has proven for them.

Summary

Messi, at 39, silenced critics who said his move to MLS was a semi-retirement. He is back in the World Cup final, may win best player again, and leads Argentina for a possible repeat championship. His never-give-up mindset and MLS success helped the league fight its "retirement" label and attract stars everywhere. It proves his promise: he kept performing at the highest level and found joy again in soccer.

FAQ

1. What did people say when Messi joined Inter Miami?
Some said he was going to "semi-retirement." Barcelona made a passive-aggressive comment, and a commentator called him "washed up" and said he should have returned to Barcelona.

2. Why is Messi’s World Cup run important for MLS?
It shows players can join MLS and still be world-class. This helps MLS close the gap between how the world sees it and what it really is, and proves it is not just a retirement league.

3. What is Messi like as a competitor?
He is an "insatiable" winner. He hates losing even in card games or training. His assistant says he always wants to win no matter the league.

4. How did Messi prepare for the World Cup with Miami?
He took extra training sessions and won internal competitions at Miami to be ready to impact games for Argentina.

5. What big stars joined MLS after Messi’s success?
Stars like Son Heung-min, Thomas Müller, Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann signed with various MLS teams.