Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine soccer player, revealed in a recent interview that he would rather take on the role of a club owner than a coach after he concludes his playing career. In a statement made to Luzu TV in December, the 38-year-old football star noted, ‘“I don’t see myself as a coach. I like management, but if I have to pick one of the three options, owning a club appeals to me the most.”’

Translation: “I don’t see myself as a coach. I like management, but if I have to decide for one of the three, I would like to be an owner.”

Messi also expressed his ambition to cultivate a club from its roots, providing opportunities for youth and making it prominent in the soccer world. Currently, he has signed a contract extension with Inter Miami that binds him until the 2028 season.

In addition to his professional playing career, Messi is a part-owner of Deportivo LSM, a fourth-division team in Uruguay, co-owned with his teammate Luis Suarez, who mentioned, ‘Deportivo LS embodies a family dream and we aim to provide young talents with the tools necessary to grow in soccer.’

Translation: “Deportivo LS is a family dream that began in 2018. We have grown a lot with more than 3,000 members. I want to offer Uruguayan soccer opportunities for teenagers and children to grow.”

This season, Messi emerged as the MLS Golden Boot recipient, scoring 29 goals and amassing 19 assists, clinching his second consecutive MVP award—the first player in MLS history to achieve such a feat.