'It's too easy & it's not healthy!' - Lionel Messi told he's playing 'PlayStation' soccer in MLS & should LEAVE America to be ready for World Cup defence with Argentina

As things stand, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is only under contract in South Florida until the end of the calendar year. He does have the option for a 12-month extension, which would take him through Argentina’s defence of their global crown next summer.

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Delays in confirmation of that clause being triggered have led to intense speculation regarding Messi’s future plans. Teams in the Saudi Pro League are said to be readying lucrative offers, while a return to Europe has been mooted for the Barcelona legend.

The all-time great is being advised to consider a change of scenery, having starred as an MVP in MLS, with the evergreen 38-year-old told that more competitive action at club level will have him better prepared for another shot at World Cup glory.

Quizzed on what the short-term future holds for Messi and MLS, Terry Phelan - who spent time in the U.S. with Charleston Battery during his playing career and was speaking in association with the wide variety of casino games available online - told GOAL: “That’s the $100 million question isn’t it. I think David Beckham has done a wonderful job at Miami. He’s built a club with the support around him and a support network. I think he had this vision of getting some of the best players in the world - the Barcelona players have been thrown in there.

“Are we looking at Messi looking at the World Cup and going ‘I need to play in a better competition because I need to be in form for the World Cup next year?’ Saudi Arabia? He doesn’t need the money to go and play there. We know the Saudi teams did well [at the Club World Cup], they beat Manchester City, won one or two games, but that’s not the be all and end all.

“With Messi, if he really wants to get that appetite, I think he needs to go somewhere that he’s going to get better competition for himself. It’s too easy. You look at his stats, you look at videos, it’s like PlayStation for him at the moment. It’s not healthy.

“He’s gone over there, shirts have been sold, revenue has been built, Miami can go and build a big new stadium. They will always be there or thereabouts, but he has got to think about what he’s going to do with the World Cup next year if he is going to play with Argentina.”

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Messi moved to Miami in the summer of 2023. He has enjoyed life in the Sunshine State alongside wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons, but it may be that he has at least one more challenge in him at club level before record-shattering boots are hung up for the final time.