Messi admits he can’t see himself coaching after retirement

Lionel Messi has ruled out a coaching future, saying he doesn’t see himself taking that path once his playing career is over and would instead prefer to focus on ownership and long-term development within the sport.

THE Inter Miami The captain explained that building a club from scratch appeals to him much more than working on the touchline.

“I don’t consider myself a coach,” Messi said in an interview with Argentine streaming channel Luzu TV. “I like the idea of ​​being a manager, but I would prefer to be an owner. I would like to have my own club, start from the bottom and build it up. Being able to give kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that’s what I would like the most.”

Messi recently committed his future to Inter Miami by signing a contract extension that extends through the 2028 MLS season, ensuring he will remain an active player for at least the next few years.

Off the field, however, he has already taken his first steps as a club owner. Alongside his long-time friend and former teammate Luis Suarez, Messi helped launch Uruguayan fourth division side Deportivo LSM, a project that began several years ago and has continued to grow ever since.

“Deportivo LS is a family dream that started in 2018. We have grown a lot with more than 3,000 members,” Suarez said. “I want to provide Uruguayan football, the place I love and where I grew up as a child, with opportunities and tools for teenagers and children to grow.”

The initiative was initially spearheaded by Suarez before Messi agreed to join the project, a move which further strengthened their long-standing partnership.