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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Moved to the United States in 2023</li><li>Has added more trophies to his collection</li><li>Can influence games as &amp; when he chooses</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n" rel="sponsored"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'He plays when he wants to' - Lionel Messi is 'three times happier at Inter Miami than in Barcelona', claims Argentina legend

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Barcelona

<p>The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to Camp Nou back in 2021 after shattering countless records in Catalunya. He headed to Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-experienced-hell-lionel-messi-psg-failing-make-history-france/blt4f8f102bcb47e63b" target="_blank">did not enjoy the best of times alongside the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe</a> in France.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Another new challenge was taken on in the summer of 2023, with Messi <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">deciding to chase the American dream</a>. He has savoured <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-lifts-trophy-46-inter-miami-superstar-most-decorated-player-all-time-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-2024/blta5661435124b5e01" target="_blank">Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield success</a> in the United States, but is still <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/how-atlanta-united-countered-threat-best-player-world-lionel-messi-stunned-inter-miami-mls-cup-play-offs/blt73fe0af243bb3fc4" target="_blank">waiting on MLS Cup glory</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi’s desire to collect major honours continues to burn bright, but he is more relaxed in Florida after already achieving everything that he set out to do. With that in mind, fellow World Cup winner Kempes has told <a href="https://tntsports.com.ar/internacional/lionel-messi-es-tres-veces-mas-feliz-en-inter-miami-que-en-barcelona-20241108-0045.html " target="_blank"><em>TNT Sports</em></a>: “Messi is three times happier playing in Inter Miami than in Barcelona.” </p>

WHAT KEMPES SAID

<p>That is said to be because Inter Miami have a “very good team” and Messi can <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-walks-around-most-game-usmnt-alexi-lalas-reacts-talk-inter-miami-superstar-needing-rest/bltd8659c087ac3a135" target="_blank">pick and choose his moments to contribute</a>. Kempes added: “It's not about coming in and having to be focused for the whole 90 minutes. He plays when he wants to.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Messi has another <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-contract-wages-cristiano-ronaldo/blt11e2d05b108b1895" target="_blank">12 months left to run on his contract</a> with the Herons, meaning that he will be back for the 2025 campaign. He has the option for a further year beyond that point, which would <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-will-make-another-world-cup-aged-39-if-he-wants-to-argentina-inter-miami-2026/bltb5aa3ea2e511c168" target="_blank">take in the 2026 World Cup finals</a>, but no decision on his long-term future has been made as yet.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

'He plays when he wants to' - Lionel Messi is 'three times happier at Inter Miami than in Barcelona', claims Argentina legend | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Lionel Messi is “three times happier” at Inter Miami than he was at Barcelona because he “plays when he wants to”, says Argentina icon Mario Kempes.