The future of Lionel Messi remains a topic of discussion as the 35-year-old’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in June. The Argentine has shown he can still play at a high level, but there are also signs of a physical decline.
CBS Sports and PSG Talk columnist Jonathan Johnson analyzed the veteran’s situation in his weekly column. While there are rumors of a possible return to FC Barcelona, the French football journalist doesn’t see it as a realistic option.
“PSG are realistically his only real option to stay in Europe as even a return to Barca for just one campaign makes little sense for club and player,” Johnson wrote. “Messi might still be evergreen in a technical sense right now but he is physically declining and there is little doubt about that so trying a new experience in Europe and needing to adapt again is unlikely to appeal.”
As a result, if Messi wants to remain in Europe at least for another season, it’s in the French capital, or it will be time to close the chapter in his career. The are other options where the physical demand won’t be as much as if he joined MLS side Inter Miami or headed to Saudi Arabia.
Nonetheless, how he performs against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League second-leg contest on Wednesday at Allianz Arena will likely determine his future.
