Inter Miami star prefers club ownership over coaching; already co-owns Deportivo LSM in Uruguay
Lionel Messi ruled out becoming a football coach after retirement. The 38-year-old Inter Miami captain told Argentine streaming channel Luzu TV he prefers to own a football club instead. He said he wants to start a club from the bottom and help young players develop.
Messi made his position clear during the interview. He said, “I do not see myself as a coach.” He explained he likes the idea of being a manager but would rather be an owner. He wants to buy or create a club at a lower level and grow it gradually while giving opportunities to young players.
ESPN reported his full comments from the Luzu TV interview. He said, “I would like to have my own club, start from the bottom, and make it grow. To be able to give the kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important.”
Deportivo LSM and Youth Development
Deportivo LSM plays in the fourth division of Uruguayan football. Messi and Suarez launched the club as a professional outfit. It operates with a membership model that includes thousands of supporters. The club runs youth academies and employs a full professional staff.
Messi recently organized the Messi Cup in Miami. The tournament featured eight under-16 academy teams. River Plate won the inaugural edition by beating Atletico Madrid in the final. The tournament aligns with his stated goal of helping young players.
Messi appears to be following a similar path to David Beckham. Beckham played for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS before his retirement. He did not become a coach or pundit. Instead, he became a co-owner of Inter Miami. Beckham helped create the Inter Miami project from scratch. The club started playing in MLS in 2020. Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 and now plays under Beckham’s ownership.
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Inter Miami Success and India Visit
Inter Miami won the MLS Cup in December 2025. They beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final. Messi did not score in the final but acted as the primary playmaker. He provided key assists during the match.
Messi scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists in 28 matches during the 2025 season. His performance helped Inter Miami win its first major trophy. He signed a contract extension that keeps him at the club until 2028. This means he could play into his 40s. He will be 41 when the contract expires.
Messi visited India in December 2025 for the first time since 2011. He traveled to four cities between December 13 and 15. He visited Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The tour was called the GOAT Tour.
He met several Indian personalities during the visit. He met Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition. He also met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Messi met cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and football legend Sunil Chhetri. He also met ICC Chairman Jay Shah. His visit to Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata created chaos due to large crowds.
The FIFA World Cup in June 2026 is likely his final World Cup. He won the tournament with Argentina in 2022. He has said he does not plan to play in another World Cup after 2026. After retirement, Messi will focus on club ownership and management. Deportivo LSM serves as his first step into football administration. His focus on youth development suggests he wants to shape football from the grassroots level.
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