Lionel Messi surprised by the unexpected retirement of his Inter Miami teammate

Lionel Messi could not hide his surprise upon learning of his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba’s decision to retire from professional football.

In statements to SPORT, the Barcelona legend described the news as “very strange,” especially because it was unexpected, unlike the more predictable retirement of Sergio Busquets.

Lionel Messi surprised by Jordi Alba’s unexpected retirement

Messi explained that Alba’s announcement came as an unexpected blow to him and his teammates. “With Busi, we had talked more about the topic, and he was already analyzing and discussing it. But with Jordi, it was from one day to the next; we didn’t expect it. One day he caught us in the locker room and told us he was retiring, without having mentioned it beforehand. For us, it was from one day to the next, and it was even more surprising.”

Beyond the pitch, Lionel Messi highlighted the personal bond he shares with Alba. Both began their Inter Miami journey together, and their friendship has remained strong over the years.

Messi admitted that the retirement news also made him reflect on his own future in football. “You see that there’s less and less time left, and the moment is approaching, being able to share the last years together was also very special.”

The future of Lionel Messi and the possibility of returning to Barcelona

Despite the surprise over Alba’s retirement, Lionel Messi has a contract that will keep him at Inter Miami until 2028, ensuring at least three more years of competition in the MLS.

However, the Argentine star has also started considering his life after football. In conversations with his wife, Messi revealed that they plan to return to Spain after his retirement, as they miss Barcelona and family life there.

“I really want to go back; we miss Barcelona a lot. The kids and my wife constantly talk about Barcelona, about the idea of living there again. We have our home, everything, so that’s what we want,” Messi said.

Lionel Messi left Barcelona in 2021 after the club did not renew his contract. After two seasons with PSG, he joined Inter Miami in 2023, where he quickly became the team’s leader and a major attraction for the MLS.