Lionel Messi preparing for “the loss of friends” after 18 years together

Inter Miami began the MLS Cup Playoffs with a comfortable win in Game 1 of their best-of-three series against Nashville SC last Friday.

The Herons are yet to win MLS Cup and this could be the best chance for Lionel Messi to claim a championship in the United States. Messi recently signed a three-year extension with Miami but this will be his final season playing alongside Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba after the Spanish pair announced their decision to retire at the end of 2025.

In a recent interview with Apple TV, Messi revealed that the impending departure of Busquets and Alba had hit him hard.

“Honestly, it’s difficult. First, because you realize you’ve dedicated your entire professional life to football, and the people around you start to leave. You understand that your own moment is also getting closer,” Messi said.

Messi began playing with Busquets when the midfielder was promoted to the Barcelona first team in 2008/09, having impressed Pep Guardiola with his performances for the club’s ‘B’ team. Alba joined the club slightly later, arriving from Valencia in 2012, but he too became a legend with the Catalan club. When Messi moved to Miami in 2023 both Busquets and Alba joined soon after, helping to forge a new MLS super-team.

Messi said of their friendship: “We were always in sync, on and off the field. We shared so much, even with our families. So yes, it’s the loss of friends — both inside and outside football.”

“It’s a tough moment for them too, because leaving behind something you love is never easy.”

Messi will be hoping that this long farewell lasts for a while longer, with Miami targeting MLS Cup on Saturday, December 6. The next postseason game for the Herons is Saturday’s Game 2 against Nashville, with the chance to book their place in the Conference semi-finals.

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