Lionel Messi joined Barcelona at age 13 after starting his career at the Rosario club, and over the years, speculation about a homecoming has often surrounded the Argentine icon. Despite signing a new three-year contract with Inter Miami last year, the prospect of Messi donning the Newell’s jersey again seemed unlikely.
Recent reports, however, indicate that Newell’s is close to finalizing a deal with the MLS Cup champions, potentially allowing Messi to play for the club in early 2027 before returning to Inter Miami. This coincides with MLS’s plan to align its calendar with Europe’s top leagues in 2027, meaning Messi would return for the start of the 2027–28 season.
When asked about talks with Messi’s team, Medina told TN: “The idea was discussed and raised, but today there is nothing definite. It is a project that transcends Newell’s. It is a project for the city of Rosario, the province of Santa Fe, and Argentine football. It all depends on what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and a competitive sports scheme.”
Messi has already left his mark in MLS, being named Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season in 2025. He finished the regular season with 29 goals and 19 assists, securing the Golden Boot ahead of Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga. Messi is only the second player in league history to win multiple MVP awards, following Predrag Radosavljevic, who achieved the feat in 1997 and 2003.