Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is set for a major transformation as key players Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets announce their retirements at the end of the season. Having already secured a playoff spot in the MLS Cup, the team aims to send both players off with a victory, marking a historic moment for the club.

With the opening of Miami Freedom Park on the horizon, Messi is still anticipated to remain with Inter Miami despite his current contract expiring at season’s end, although he may no longer be surrounded by familiar faces.

Alba expressed, “This has been a thoughtful decision I’ve considered for a long time. I feel it’s the right moment to begin a new personal chapter and fully enjoy time with my family after so many demanding years in professional football.”
(Translation: “This decision has been well thought out, and I believe it’s time for me to begin a new personal journey and deeply appreciate time with my family after an exhausting career in professional soccer.”)

The team aims to fill the gaps left by their departure as they have plans to sign Rodrigo De Paul and are rumored to acquire Sergio Reguilon as a free agent. With the departure of key players, Messi will now be the last one from the star-studded trio that joined Inter Miami in 2023.

In a league governed by salary caps, changes were necessary as the team navigated player retention while aiming for an MLS Cup that has thus far eluded them despite winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.

A championship victory could provide Alba the perfect farewell as he concludes his career, illustrating that while this chapter is coming to an end, the story of Inter Miami is far from over.