Winner of the 2023 Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi (36 years old) has had a crazy year, marked by a hectic summer transfer window. At the end of the contract, the Argentinian left PSG. Free, he was requested by FC Barcelona, Al-Hilal and Inter Miami. The 2022 world champion opted for the MLS franchise. But he admitted he hesitated in an interview with The Times . A media which also elected him sportsman of the year.
“The truth is that fortunately I had several interesting options on the table, and I had to analyze and think about them, weighing the pros and cons with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami. My first option was to return to Barcelona, but that was not possible. I tried to come back, but it didn't happen. It is also true that later I thought a lot about going to the Saudi league. I know the country where they have created a very powerful competition which can become an important league in the near future. As the country's tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I enjoyed everything I visited, thanks to the growth of football in the country and the efforts made to create a high-level competition. In the end, it was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me. And he opted for Miami, which was favored by his wife. The Argentinian took advantage of his interview to talk about his new life in the USA. “For now we can't complain about anything. Perhaps the most difficult thing to adapt to is the traffic, although in Paris it was also complicated. And then the heat and humidity in summer. Although being at the beach or on vacation can often be nice, playing sports, working out or playing games, especially in the summer, can be a bit much, and it shows.” But the Messi family is happy in Miami and that's the main thing.