Lionel Messi just turned 38 on Tuesday. And even for a player who redefined what was possible on a football pitch, age doesn’t just slow you down, it starts to hurt.
The signs are all there. Messi now plays through pain. Years of accumulated minutes, countless tackles absorbed, and muscle fatigue are catching up to him. It’s no longer rare to see him limping through mixed zones post-match, offering calm and measured words to the press.
And through the latter stages of Monday's exciting 2-2 draw against Flamengo in South Florida, even DAZN commentator Andres Cantor, another legendary Argentine in American soccer circles, couldn't ignore the reality that Messi again appeared to be bothered more than usual by that wear.
Despite carefully managed training schedules, constant recovery protocols, and individual fitness plans, the wear is showing: groin tightness, ankle swelling. back stiffness. These aren’t just minor setbacks, they’re the symptoms of a body that has given more than it was ever supposed to.
The Weight of an entir league
In theory, Messi came to MLS for a calmer final chapter. After battles in La Liga and Ligue 1, this was meant to be the victory lap: less intensity and more joy.
In reality, it has been anything but. Messi plays nearly every minute, he leads the team on and off the field, crosses time zones weekly, plays on artificial turf and on surfaces that bear no resemblance to the manicured grass of the Camp Nou.
And now, Argentina coach Javier Mascherano faces a decision. Does he max out every minute Messi can give against PSG on Sunday in an intense Club World Cup fixture? Or if the Herons fall behind and out of contention, does he finally spell his captain in this tournament with an eye toward the remainder of the season?
It’s not just a sporting or medical calculation, it’s a financial one.
Because Inter Miami without Messi is a different team altogether. With him, they’re contenders, without him, they’re ordinary.
And this goes beyond footballing output. Messi drives ticket sales, global broadcasts, media coverage and even club infrastructure. Every minute he plays makes headlines, and every match he misses fuels speculation. What’s too often overlooked is what this means for Messi’s long-term health.
2026 and beyond
Messi ultimately has his eyes set on the 2026 World Cup, held on the soil he’s now navigating weekly in MLS. But to get there in one piece, something has to give.
Eventually, someone has to answer these questions:
- Should Messi be playing fewer minutes?
- Should Inter Miami protect him more, even at the expense of results?
- Should MLS do more to shield its biggest star from burnout?
- How much more can he give?
Right now, no one seems able to. So it's unlikely anyone is going to be the one to bench the best player in the team and the leader of the locker room?