Messi's final Argentina match marks end of era as he shifts focus to club ownership

Lionel Messi will play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday, capping a 208-game international career. The forward announced his retirement from the national team on 31 August, six weeks after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain. Coach Lionel Scaloni stated the door remains open if Messi changes his mind, but the player is stepping away from the national squad. The farewell friendly against Benin will take place at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Messi is shifting his focus to club ownership in Europe and South America. He purchased UE Cornella, a fifth-tier Spanish side near Barcelona, in April. On 1 October, he became the owner of CD Eldense, a second-division club, pending approval from the Spanish sports council. Former Villarreal manager Javi Calleja joined Eldense to handle day-to-day operations while Messi follows matches closely from his computer. The ownership deal attracted about a dozen new sponsors within days, leveraging Messi's global brand to secure partnerships that previously stalled. After Eldense secured a four goals to one win over Real Oviedo, Messi posted Aupa Deportivo on Instagram.

Messi and Luis Suarez founded Deportivo LSM in Uruguay in May 2025, earning promotion to the third tier in its first season. Plans to expand his club network quickly cooled due to high acquisition costs. He will instead concentrate on helping Eldense establish itself in La Liga. His Inter Miami contract runs through the end of the 2028 season and includes shares he will receive upon retiring from playing. He has no plans to launch his own franchise in Miami.

Away from football, Messi has built a diversified portfolio that Forbes valued at roughly $1.1bn in June. His earnings reached approximately $140m over the past year. He holds a lifetime partnership with Adidas signed in 2017. His real estate ventures include MiM Hotels, a chain of six boutique properties managed by Melia since 1 November 2025, and Carrasco M, a 24-home development in Rosario. He is also a partner in El Club de la Milanesa restaurant chain, which plans to open five locations in Catalonia this year. Stanley recently signed a multi-year deal with Messi for mate drinkware.

Messi remains deeply involved in youth development through the Messi Cup. The Under-16 tournament expanded to 16 teams this year, starting 25 October at Inter Miami facilities in Florida. He attended every match of last year's competition and continues to invest his time and capital into the event. His business operations are managed by a trusted team that handles endorsements and investments. He told the America Business Forum last November: "Business is something that interests me. I would like to keep learning because I know nothing and I am just starting out."