Messi is preparing to go through the longest break in his career 

Argentine Lionel Messi (36 years old) will spend the longest break period in his career ever, when he will spend 4 months without playing football, as a result of his team, Inter Miami, failing to qualify for the final qualifiers of the American Football League for the current season. The Argentine's career has been non-stop for two decades, but it seems he'll have something of a break during the winter months. Since emerging at Barcelona nearly two decades ago, it's safe to say that Lionel Messi has played a lot of football. There are blessings and curses that come with being one of the best to ever do it, and the biggest curse in that is that, over the years, there have been lots and lots of miles put into your legs. Since 2003, Messi has played in 899 matches at club level alone, and that's not even counting preseason friendlies. Add in the 201 total matches he's played for Argentina, and that averages out to 55 matches a year, or more than one per week. So, as Messi stares down an MLS offseason unlike anything he's ever seen, he must be thinking one thing: now what? By failing to make the playoffs, Inter Miami will now head into an extended break from competitive action, one longer than any Messi has ever had. The Argentinian was linked with a move back to Barcelona to maintain his fitness, but a return to his old club won't be going through. Inter Miami will also play a friendly match against the Argentine team, Newell's Old Boys, at the beginning of next February, which will make Messi play 3 matches within 4 months, but what is worse is that the player will play fateful matches with Argentina next month. Argentina will play the fourth and fifth rounds of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, against Uruguay on November 16 and Brazil five days later, and reports have questioned the extent of Messi’s actual readiness for the two matches. The Uruguay and Brazil matches will be a real test for Messi during his big break with Inter Miami.