Former French international and Chelsea midfielder, Emmanuel Petit, has predicted that Lionel Messi will retire from football following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an interview with EscapistMagazine, Petit dismissed ongoing speculation about Messi’s potential return to Barcelona, insisting the club has moved on — especially with the rise of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
“Messi has been linked with a loan move back to Barcelona, but that’s not happening. Lamine Yamal won’t sit on the bench, and while Messi could play in a No. 10 role, we know he doesn’t press or run anymore. Can Barcelona really afford that in midfield?” Petit questioned.
He added: “There’s no way we’ll see Messi at Barcelona again. I wish him the best at the 2026 World Cup, and I believe that will be the end of his incredible career.”
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, left Barcelona in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain after the Spanish giants failed to renew his contract due to financial difficulties.
