Inter Miami experienced a night to forget after falling 3-0 against Orlando City at Chase Stadium. Lionel Messi was in the starting eleven, but he couldn't change the fate of a team that hasn't found its best version for weeks. The defeat not only hurt in sports terms but also reignited doubts about the club and the future of its great figure.
The team led by Javier Mascherano is going through a complicated slump. Out of the last five matches, they have only managed to win one. Although they remain in the play-off zone with 22 points, they have fallen to sixth place in the East, and the upcoming schedule doesn't help.
Orlando, which was recently below them in the standings, surpassed them and moved to fourth. The blow was not only hard because of the score but also because of what it might trigger in the team's near future.
Messi's future, increasingly uncertain
At the end of the match, Messi was approached by a journalist who tried to inquire about his plans beyond 2025, the year his contract with the club expires. The Argentine's response was as short as it was revealing: "I don't know anything," he said with a slight but enigmatic smile.
There was no need to add more. That brief statement left a total sense of uncertainty hanging in the air. There were no gestures of continuity or a clear intention to stay.
Only the subsequent silence and the ambiguity of his words, which opened the door to all kinds of interpretations. As in other stages of his career, Messi let the world talk while he keeps calm, without showing his cards.
Barcelona, a dream that doesn't die
More than 4,350 miles (7,000 km) away, FC Barcelona fans heard that phrase with a mix of nostalgia and hope. Every time Messi leaves a sign, no matter how small, the culé sentiment is reactivated. Camp Nou, in full renovation, hopes to see its idol at least once more.
From the Catalan club, they haven't hidden their desire to pay him a proper tribute, in front of their people, with the stands full. Joan Laporta himself has hinted at that possibility in several interviews. And if the return isn't just for a symbolic farewell? And if there's room for one last real dance?
The clock keeps ticking
Messi has a contract with Inter Miami until December 2025. There is still time, but not as much as it seems. Important decisions aren't announced overnight, and the coming months will be key.
The team's performance, sporting ambition, and personal emotions will play an essential role. For now, Messi keeps playing. But with each match, the question grows louder: will Camp Nou be the stage for the definitive farewell? The ball, as always, is in his court.