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Lionel Messi, the legendary eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, has opened up about his difficult two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), revealing that he was unhappy "on a daily basis" during his time in the French capital. Now, the 37-year-old is thriving both on and off the pitch after making the move to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami in July 2023.
Lionel Messi's struggles at PSG
Messi, who had spent two decades at Barcelona, joined PSG in 2021 after leaving his boyhood club due to financial constraints. However, despite joining one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, Messi admitted that he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings.
In a candid interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Messi shared,
Coming to play for Inter Miami was an opportunity and the way things developed during my last years in Paris, although it was a decision that I had to make on the go because I had to leave from Barcelona, I went through two years which I didn’t enjoy. I wasn’t happy on a daily basis, with the training, the matches. I had a hard time adapting to all that.
A fresh start in Miami for Lionel Messi
Messi’s move to Inter Miami has been a fresh start both professionally and personally. He expressed excitement about being part of a club that is still growing and developing.
I felt called to come to Inter because it’s a club that’s growing, very new, with few years as a club, Messi said.
The transition has not only been rewarding for Messi but also for his family. Messi revealed that his loved ones are enjoying their new life in Florida, a place he had known only from occasional visits before.
I liked the idea of coming and help the club to become a greater club and I also knew it was a city that my family and I would enjoy, Messi shared.
A positive outlook on MLS growth
Messi’s decision to join MLS is part of his larger vision to help the league grow into one of the top football competitions globally. He sees the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in Miami, as a significant milestone for both the city and the league.
I think this is very important for the club, especially, to participate for the first time in a World Cup that will take place in the country, and for the MLS to have two teams is a wonderful thing, he said.
Messi’s presence in MLS has already contributed to the league’s rise in prominence, and he believes that it will continue to attract high-quality talent in the years to come.
Everything that’s happening creates an opportunity for the MLS to keep growing in football, as a league, and for other players to have the opportunity to come and keep growing, he added.
The future for Messi and MLS
As Messi continues to shine in his new chapter with Inter Miami, he remains passionate about elevating the status of MLS and providing a platform for other players to succeed. Having won numerous titles during his 21 years at Barcelona and more recently his eighth Ballon d'Or for leading Argentina to World Cup glory, Messi’s leadership and vision in MLS offer hope for an exciting future.
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