Football legend Lionel Messi has sparked global interest with his post-retirement plans. In an exclusive interview published on January 6, 2026, he said that he will not be seen in the coaching dugout like Maradona or Zidane, but as the owner of a football club. Messi has made it clear that he is more interested in the challenge of building a club from the grassroots than in setting the strategy on the pitch. Until 2028 Inter Miami The Argentine legend, who is under contract with, is already demonstrating his future business entity by managing his own club in Uruguay alongside Luis Suarez.
Why is Lionel Messi interested in club ownership instead of coaching?
Lionel Messi's football career is as magical as his future plans are. While footballers usually take up coaching licenses after hanging up their boots, Messi is following in the footsteps of David Beckham. Argentina's streaming channel Luzu TV In an interview, Messi said, "I don't want to be a coach, I want to be an owner. Having my own club and growing it from the ground up—this idea appeals to me a lot." Messi's plan is not just a personal hobby, but a well-thought-out strategy to perpetuate his influence in the commercial structure of football.
Messi's desire to become an owner will take him from the football field to the boardroom. Argentina's influential newspaper Buenos Aires Times In their report, Messi's Specific desire to leave coaching and move into ownership mentioned, where he spoke openly about his vision for the future. Messi believes that overseeing the long-term development of an organization is much more productive than the mental stress of the dugout. When he retires from the field after the 2026 World Cup, his main goal will be to create a successful business structure for football.
‘What is the current status of 'Deportivo LSM' and Messi's future projects?
Lionel Messi has already taken the plunge into club ownership with his long-time friend and teammate Luis Suarez. Together, they manage the club in Uruguay's fourth division. Deportivo LSM He runs a club called. The club is named after their initials (Lionel, Suarez, Messi). The club currently has more than 3,000 members and employs about 80 professional staff. It is not just a hobby project, but a laboratory for Messi's football philosophy. He wants to explore new talent by building an academy from the grassroots level.
He has also launched a program for young footballers. ‘'Messi Cup'’, whose first season recently concluded. International sports media Sports Illustrated (SI) According to its report, Messi in the final of the inaugural edition of the Cup Argentina's River Plate beat Atletico Madrid to become champions. These initiatives prove that Messi does not just want to buy a team, but rather he wants to build an entire football ecosystem. Messi's off-field activities have sparked new discussions in the football world before the new season starts against LAFC on February 21, 2026.
Messi's future plans and current projects at a glance
| Subject | Description |
| Post-retirement goals | Owning and managing a football club. |
| Current club contract | With Inter Miami until the 2028 season. |
| Existing project | Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM (Jointly owned). |
| Number of members | 3,000+ and 80 professional staff. |
| Youth Development | ‘'Messi Cup' is an international under-16 tournament. |
| Next goal | Winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup and defending MLS. |
What are Messi's biggest challenges on his path from footballer to businessman?
While the challenges on the football field may seem simple for Lionel Messi, the complexities of club ownership are quite different. Running a club requires huge investments, sponsorship management and infrastructure development. However, Messi's brand value is so strong that any major investor in the world is eager to get involved with him. India TodayAn analytical report states, How Messi believes more in human and structural improvement than technology, which will help him become a successful owner. However, he will need to work with experienced sports executives to fulfill this administrative role off the field.
Another big challenge is time. He will be active on the field until the 2026 World Cup and could be seen wearing the Argentina jersey again in June. As a result, it is quite difficult to organize the club ownership tasks amidst the busy 2026 season. However, Messi said in his interview that he wants to move slowly. The challenge of taking his club from the very bottom to the top of success step by step is what excites him. In a world where legends are afraid of becoming failed coaches, Messi is creating a new trend with this bold decision to directly lead.
Why is Messi's decision a unique revolution in the world of football?
Most footballers spend their lives as media personalities or coaches after retirement, but when a global icon like Messi announces that he will become a direct club owner, it changes the economic structure of football. World Soccer TalkA special feature of says that, Messi's post-retirement projects How he can surpass even the David Beckham model. His connections with Luis Suarez and other footballers will help him build the best scouting network in the world.
Messi believes that true development of football is possible if the clubs are run with the right vision. His main goal is not only to win trophies, but also to improve the quality of life of the players and bring out the talent from the grassroots. He has already started that revolution with Deportivo LSM. The way he has transformed a fourth division club into a corporate model with 80 professional employees is instructive for many big clubs. Messi's 'ownership model' will encourage other current footballers to make big investments in the future.
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Conclusion:
Lionel Messi has always amazed the world with his game, and now he has surprised with his future plans. From a magician on the football field, he is now on his way to becoming a successful football entrepreneur. His decision is not only a turning point in his personal career, but also a milestone in the evolution of modern football. Choosing the difficult path of ownership rather than walking the familiar path of coaching shows Messi's courage. Deportivo LSM and Messi Cup Projects like this prove that he is determined to bring about radical changes in the grassroots structure of football.
The decision to play with Inter Miami for the 2026 World Cup and until 2028 is a big relief for fans. However, his preparation off the field reminds us that one day this magical dribbling will stop. But the Messis of the future will come out of the clubs or academies that Messi created. Football legends usually leave the field and disappear, but Messi wants to stay in the heartbeat of football—sometimes as a player, sometimes as an influential owner. We may not get to see Messi the coach in the dugout, but it is only a matter of time before we see Messi a successful club owner sitting in the VIP box of the gallery.
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