This is what Lionel Messi had to say about his future after receiving MARCA award

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi returned home from a hat trick in Argentina to a red-carpet welcome at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where on Thursday he accepted the MARCA America Award, a lifetime achievement award from the Spanish sports media company.

A few hundred invited guests were on hand as the trophy was presented to the Argentine icon by Juan Ignacio Gallardo, director of MARCA, alongside Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas.

“You are the champion of champions,” Gallardo said, as the adoring audience broke into applause.

Messi, wearing a black suit, then sat down for a short interview with Gallardo during which he discussed highlights of his career, his family and his latest objectives with Inter Miami, which plays its regular-season finale at home Saturday against the New England Revolution and kicks off the MLS playoffs as the top seed next week.

He smiled as he recalled seeing photos of himself as a young child lifting trophies.

Asked about his record 102 total career titles, 48 of them major trophies, Messi said: “The titles are not individual trophies, they were group efforts with my teammates. We share many memories together. Over a 20-year career it was not always happy memories, you can’t always win. There were difficult times, too, but I grew as a player and a person through it all.”

As for his decision to leave Europe to join MLS and Inter Miami, he said: “The move was not in any way a retirement, but instead a chance to keep winning big things with this club that has a short history and help with the growth of this club. We have won one title (Leagues Cup) and we are close to winning another one.”

The 37-year-old said he is enjoying the sport more than ever. “I love what I do. I love to be on the field. And as I am nearing the end, it makes me appreciate every moment even more. I get more emotional, like I did the other night in Argentina, hearing the people shout my name. I was out injured for nearly three months, stuck in the gym, and now I feel good, feel strong again.”

Messi said it delights him that his three sons are now old enough to understand what he does and share in his successes. He would not make predictions as to whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“When that moment comes, we’ll see,” he said. “I don’t like to look ahead or talk about the future. I prefer to enjoy the day-to-day. Hopefully, I can maintain this level and be happy. When I am feeling good and enjoying what I do, that’s when I’m happy. My objective is not to reach the World Cup, it’s to enjoy my day to day.”

Messi’s unparalleled resume includes: eight Ballon d’Ors, six Golden Boots and the titles of top scorer in both La Liga and with Argentina. He also holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup history with 26 games and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.

Most recently, he led Argentina to the 2024 Copa America championship and this month helped Inter Miami win its first MLS Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best regular-season record. Tuesday night, he showed the world he is still atop his game with a vintage performance during a 6-0 Argentina win over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match, scoring three goals and assisting on two others.

Mas joked on the red carpet that he told Messi after the hat trick that he wished he had saved some goals for Inter Miami on Saturday.

“I am pleased to be here to honor Lionel Messi, his career is unlike any other, but I would like to also share with you about him not just as a soccer player, but as a man, a family man. We have been able to share many memorable moments with him and his family, his wife, Antonella, his children, his parents. Our dream was about a family dream to change the sport in the United States, and the only person who could do that was Lionel Messi. I am honored to be his partner, and our next goal is to win the MLS Cup.”

Messi was asked what is left to attain after such an illustrious career.

“I have fulfilled all my dreams and enjoyed much more than I expected when I was young,” he said. “I was able to win the trophy every child dreams about, the World Cup. I was lucky to win many titles in Barcelona, in Paris, arrive here and win titles (Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield) and now we are close to winning another one.”