Where Next For Lionel Messi? Six Options For Barcelona Legend Whose PSG Career Looks Finished
Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain career will almost certainly end when his contract expires at the end of June.
PSG had been desperate for the 35-year-old to sign a new deal to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes.
But club officials are slowly starting to accept that a summer departure might not be a disaster as it becomes increasingly clear that staying in Paris is not Messi's first choice.
In truth, it was never Messi's first choice to move to Paris. He had been perfectly happy at Barcelona.
Messi's 2021 transfer from Barca only happened because La Liga rules prevented him from signing a new contract due to his former club's financial position.
The player had been willing to take a significant pay-cut to stay at the Camp Nou, such was his commitment to Barca. But this was not allowed.
Conversely, Messi's commitment to PSG was questioned this week when he missed training to fly to the Middle East to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia.
Messi had been expecting that he and his teammates would be granted two days off if they beat Lorient at the weekend.
But they lost 3-1 at home and PSG manager Christophe Galtier ordered everyone to attend a training session on Monday.
Messi went AWOL and has been suspended for two weeks as result.
Lionel Messi has been suspended by PSG for missing training and is likely to leave the club this summer
IMAGO/PanoramiC/Federico Pestellini
The decision to punish Messi will see the player miss games against Troyes and Ajaccio. PSG will have just three fixtures remaining after those matches.
Messi's absence will allow Galtier to give more game time to younger players, like Hugo Ekitike and Ilyes Housni, as PSG look to shape a new, younger team built with materials more durable than star power.
PSG bosses will also hope that publicly punishing a player of Messi's status will make a powerful statement about what is expected of the rest of the team going forward.
But what next for Messi? As you can imagine, he has a few options...
Where Will Lionel Messi Be Playing Next Season?
Option 1: Barcelona
Messi did not want to leave in 2021. He would love to go back and Barcelona would love to have him back.
However, Barca's financial situation is as almost as delicate as it was two years ago and any move for Messi would first have to be approved by La Liga.
Before being able to submit an offer, Barca would have to make significant cuts to their wage bill.
Messi has played more games, 778, and scored more goals, 672, for Barcelona than any other player
IMAGO/AFLOSPORT
Option 2: Al-Hilal
A move to the Saudi Pro League is almost certain to be the best offer on the table financially.
Messi already earns more than $30 million per year as an official ambassador for the tourism board of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hilal are set to be released from a transfer ban this summer. Had they not been barred from signing players earlier this year, it is understood that Cristiano Ronaldo would likely have joined Asia's most decorated club, instead of Al Nassr.
Ronaldo is reportedly unsettled in Riyadh and is said to be looking for a way out. But perhaps one last title battle with Messi could convince him to stay.
Whether Messi can be persuaded to drop down to that level of soccer, barely six months after winning the World Cup, remains to be seen.
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) pictured embracing during a friendly game between PSG and a Saudi Pro League all-star XI in January
IMAGO/Power Sport Images/Stringer
Option 3: Inter Miami
A move to Major League Soccer would also be a significant step down for Messi in terms of playing standard.
But Miami is a city that Messi and his family are very fond of and they already own a home there.
If Messi were to move to Inter Miami it would be the most significant transfer in MLS history since David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007.
Beckham is now Inter Miami president and is hopeful he can play an instrumental role in bringing Messi to Florida.
David Beckham pictured playing for PSG against Messi's Barcelona in 2013
IMAGO/PanoramiC/Anthony Bibard
Option 4: PSG
It is looking very unlikely that Messi will stay at PSG but an offer has been sat on the table for months.
Messi's time at PSG has had its fair share of magical moments but the main objective, winning the Champions League, has not been achieved.
It is possible, though improbable, that if it becomes apparent that Barcelona cannot sign him, Messi and PSG could together decide to give conquering Europe one final shot.
Messi's partnership with Kylian Mbappe at PSG has been brilliant at times
IMAGO/PanoramiC/JBAutissier
Option 5: England
It is often said that England's Premier League is the best domestic division in the world. So where better to go for the player often said to be the greatest of all time?
A reunion with former Barca boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City would be quite something.
Of the 34 trophies Messi won with Barcelona, 14 of them came when Pep Guardiola (left) was the manager
IMAGO/Ulmer/Lingria
Option 6: Newell's Old Boys
Messi may feel as though he has completed European soccer and decide to return to his boyhood club.
He left Newell's Old Boys aged just 13, so never got the chance to play a senior match for the Rosario club.
Messi's family and his parents-in-law still live in Rosario, while the player has previously said that he would love to return there before his career is over.
"I would love to [go back]," Messi told Telefe in 2016. "It is something I have kept an eye on because it was my dream as a child.
"Obviously my life started to change and went another way, but I have no regrets.
"It's something I have kept an eye on. I want to play in Argentine football and Newell's, where I grew up."
