Lionel Messi’s historic 2023 season has come to an end.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finished the year with yet another victory, leading Argentina to a 1-0 win over Brazil in their World Cup qualifier at the Maracana Stadium.
So what’s next for Messi? Kimbiblog Sports looks at his upcoming schedule in 2024.
Messi to play Newell’s Old Boys?
Inter Miami are still determining their 2024 preseason schedule, with the club reportedly planning four to six matches early next year, per Fox Sports.
The club released a statement after the news went viral, saying that Inter Miami playing in the Riyadh Season Cup is inaccurate, per Kimbiblog Sports.
The statement added that Inter Miami’s first international tour will be announced in the coming weeks.
So who are they playing?
While not yet officially confirmed, reports have surfaced that Inter Miami will lock horns with Messi’s boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in a friendly match at DRV PNK Stadium this coming February, per Sporting News.
With the 2024 MLS season set to begin in late February, this match will serve as a key friendly for Inter Miami in preparation for the new campaign.
In addition, the match will highlight the significance of the two clubs in Messi’s illustrious football career.
He started his career as a youth player at Newell’s Old Boys, with the Rosario-based club taking him in when he was just six years old.
He was one of the standout players of the club’s “Machine of ’87” youth side. Barcelona noticed his outstanding talent and snapped his services in 2000.
Messi broke into Barca’s first team in 2005, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Busy 2024 looms for Messi
Messi’s 2024 season will be jampacked, with Inter Miami set to play in several tournaments. Apart from the 34-game MLS regular season, the Herons will also play in the Leagues Cup and the U.S. Open Cup.
Inter Miami will also compete for the first time in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a reward for them winning the 2023 Leagues Cup.
The main focus for Messi and Argentina next year, though, is the 2024 Copa America, which will be held in the United States from June 30 to July 14.
They enter that tournament as the defending champions, having won the title against Brazil in the 2021 final.
Brazil fans cheer on Messi
Kimbiblog Sports recently reported on Brazilian fans showing love to Messi before the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.
A video of Brazil fans chanting “Messi, Messi” at the Maracana Stadium went viral.
Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0, with Otamendi scoring the lone goal in the second half