Messi Should Forget About Returning To Barcelona – Petit

Lionel Messi should retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Emmanuel Petit has said. He recently revealed that Messi shouldn’t even entertain the thought of returning to Barcelona.

Speaking to the press, Petit shared that he has seen reports linking Messi with a return on loan, and he wonders who the Argentine can displace in the team’s current setup.

According to him, even though the Argentine forward can do a good job in the number 10 role, the fact that Messi can no longer run like he used to will make him an instant liability for the team.

Petit stated that there is no way Lionel can be selected to start matches nowadays when there are more mobile options to choose from.

His words, “Lionel Messi has been linked with a loan back to Barcelona, but Lamine Yamal isn’t going to be on the bench.

Messi could play in the number 10, but we know that he doesn’t run and can Barcelona control the midfield with only two players in there? There is no way we will see Messi back at Barcelona. I wish him the best in getting to the 2026 World Cup and I think then he will retire,” he said.

He further noted that it’ll be hard for Messi to get the special treatment he enjoys with the Argentina national team at any top club across the globe.

Petit concluded by saying that the best clubs in Europe no longer play football with 10 players doing the running on the pitch.

“Could Messi go on loan elsewhere in Europe before the World Cup? I think he has had really special treatment in America and it would be hard.

It’s the same situation with Ronaldo and who is able to pay those wages at their ages, you need 10 other players to do the running and top European sides don’t work like that. You don’t see players in modern football that don’t have much movement, that’s why Messi’s time in Europe is over,” he added.

WOW.