Since emerging at Barcelona nearly two decades ago, it's safe to say that Lionel Messi has played a lot of football. There are blessings and curses that come with being one of the best to ever do it, and the biggest curse in that is that, over the years, there are lots and lots of miles put into your legs.
Since 2003, Messi has played in 899 matches at club level alone, and that's not even counting preseason friendlies. Add in the 201 total matches he's played for Argentina, and that averages out to 55 matches a year, or more than one per week.
So, as Messi stares down an MLS offseason unlike anything he's ever seen, he must be thinking one thing: now what? By failing to make the playoffs, Inter Miami will now head into an extended break from competitive action, one longer than any Messi has ever had. The Argentinian was linked with a move back to Barcelona to maintain his fitness, but a return to his old club won't be going through.
Miami aren't quite done yet in terms of their 2023 schedule, but they will not gather again with winning turly on their mind until early January, and will not play another meaningful match until February, meaning Messi and Co. will go at least three-and-a-half months without a competitive fixture.
So how will Messi spend his time throughout that long offseason? GOAL takes a look...