Holiday over! Lionel Messi heading back to Inter Miami ahead of 2024 MLS season after enjoying rare two-month break from football

Lionel Messi has enjoyed a rare break from competitive football, but the Argentine’s holiday is over as he is now heading back to Inter Miami.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to the United States in the summer of 2023 after severing ties with Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. He inspired his new club to Leagues Cup glory within weeks of his arrival, but an unfortunate injury contributed towards Inter Miami missing out on a place in the MLS play-offs.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi had international action with Argentina to take in after seeing his domestic campaign come to a close, but his last outing for the 2022 World Cup winners came against Brazil in the Maracana on November 21. He returned to his homeland for the festive and New Year period, but is now flying north to Florida.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to TyC Sports, Messi and his family departed Argentina for Fort Lauderdale at around 11pm on Saturday evening. They will now be settling back into life at the lavish waterfront mansion that was purchased shortly after their arrival in America.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?
Messi’s next game will not be until January 19 – almost two months after his last – when Inter Miami take in a friendly date with El Salvador. The Herons also have games against a Hong Kong Select XI, Vissel Kobe, FC Dallas and Newell’s Old Boys on their schedule, while Al-Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr will be faced at the Riyadh Cup.

WHAT HAPPENED?