Lionel Messi: 2023 Ballon d’Or Winner Pre Empts Retirement After Record Extending Win

• Lionel Messi has admitted he will miss football when he eventually calls it quits
• Messi is on the final stretch of his career after more than 15 years of professional football
• He is yet to confirm whether he will lead Argentina at the 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi has painted a sad picture of how his life in retirement would look like. At 36 years old, Messi is in the twilight of his career; that has been more than impressive, to say the least.

He recently won his eighth Ballon d'Or title - the most by any player in history. He did so after exiting European football, moving to Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer in the United States.

The former Barcelona captain has already ruled out a possible return to European leagues. He also remained coy on whether he will lead Argentina's World Cup defence in 2026.

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"It’s not about just being there just for the sake of it, but about feeling good and being able to bring something to the team. Knowing that I’ll be 39 years old, it may be difficult, but we’ll see how I feel physically," he said, as quoted by GFFN.

Messi: I will miss football

Speaking in his Apple documentary Messi meets America, the father of three hinted at never being able to fully get satisfied again after enjoying football his whole life.

"I have been lucky enough to enjoy what I like. I try to enjoy it every time I get into the field. I understand that these are my last years in football. I know when I don't have to do this, I am going to miss it dearly," as translated by Albiceleste Talk.

The Inter Miami forward expressed concern about not finding something to do with the rest of his life.

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"No matter how many things I find to do, nothing is going to be like this, what I have done my whole life."

He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami, keeping him at the club until 2025, according to Sporting News.

Messi's records that won't be broken

Lionel Messi clinched his eighth Ballon d'Or award in Paris on Monday (October 30), adding another distinguished accolade to his already extensive collection of awards.

As the Argentine maestro himself acknowledges the impermanence of achievements, we are left to ponder whether there will ever be someone capable of surpassing his record in winning future Ballon d'Or awards. However, this isn't the only seemingly 'impossible' Messi record.

According to a report by Marca, Sports Brief explores seven additional records that appear insurmountable.