Lionel Messi returns to Inter Miami training after World Cup

The legend is back—Messi returns to the pitch with eyes set on a new challenge...

MIAMI: Football icon Lionel Messi has returned to training with Inter Miami CF after taking a short break following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

The Argentine captain was back on the training pitch on Wednesday, just 10 days after Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New Jersey, ending the South American nation’s hopes of defending the title they won in Qatar four years earlier.

Inter Miami shared a video on its official social media platforms showing Messi arriving for training alongside longtime teammate and close friend Luis Suárez. The footage quickly attracted millions of views as fans celebrated the return of one of football’s greatest-ever players.

Following the World Cup final, Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario in Argentina, where he spent time with his family while recovering physically and emotionally from the tournament.

A day after the final, the 39-year-old expressed his disappointment in an emotional social media message, admitting that the defeat had left a deep emotional scar.

“The pain is immense, and it’s going to take a long time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote after Argentina narrowly missed out on consecutive World Cup titles.

The football legend has not yet confirmed whether he will continue representing Argentina at international level, leaving supporters eagerly waiting for a decision about his future with the national team.

During Messi’s absence, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained that neither Messi nor Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul had a fixed return date, stressing the physical and mental demands of a World Cup campaign.

“They need the time,” Hoyos had said, adding that players deserved adequate rest after competing on football’s biggest stage.

Major League Soccer also granted Messi and De Paul permission to miss this year’s MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte due to their recent World Cup commitments. The decision marked a departure from last season, when Messi received a one-match suspension after missing the showcase event without an approved exemption.

Although Messi has resumed full training, Inter Miami has not officially confirmed when he will return to competitive action. The club is scheduled to host the Columbus Crew on Saturday before beginning its Leagues Cup campaign next week against Mexico’s Atlético de San Luis.

With Messi back on the training ground, excitement has surged among Inter Miami supporters, who hope the Argentine superstar will quickly return to action and lead the club’s push for silverware during the remainder of the 2026 season.