Lionel Messi gives honest verdict on potential managerial career after retirement

Argentina skipper and football great Lionel Messi has opened up on a potential managerial career after he retires from the sport. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is currently 37 and approaching the fag end of his playing career. Notably, the 2026 FIFA World Cup might be the ultimate tournament the Argentine talisman takes part in.

In such a juncture, a question which surrounds every Lionel Messi admirer is whether he will take up a managerial role after retirement. As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, Messi has given an honest verdict on this matter. He said (according to Romano on X):

"I'm not planning to become a manager when I will retire. This is not something I'm considering to do."

Lionel Messi is one of the best footballers of his generation. Having mastered the art of football from La Masia, he spent 17 years at Barcelona. The Argentine also went on to represent clubs in France and USA. In France, he spent two seasons at Ligue 1 heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, where he shared the dressing room with star footballers like Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe.

Currently, the Argentina national team captain is plying his trade for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, an outfit co-owned by former English footballer David Beckham.

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Which former Barcelona teammates of Lionel Messi took up a managerial role?

Only a handful of Lionel Messi's former teammates have taken up managerial roles. Former Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol tried his luck in the same and worked as an executive assistant at the Catalan giants. However, post that he didn't participate much as a manager.

Xavi notably is the only candidate who went up to shine as a manager. Although comparatively young to many managers in Europe, the 44-year-old earned the limelight as a manager during his stay at Al-Sadd SC. Later on in a nostalgic reunion, he joined Barcelona in November 2021 and managed the side for 143 matches. In the process, he won 91 games, drew 23 and lost only 29 fixtures.

Xavi shared the dressing room with Messi since 2005, when the latter was promoted to the senior team at Barcelona. The other Barca teammates of Messi who became a manager are Juliano Belletti, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Victor Valdes, and Thierry Henry.