Argentina's Lionel Messi named Time magazine's Sportsman of the Year
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi was named Time magazine's Sportsman of the Year on Tuesday, for his impact on American football since joining Inter Miami this summer. "Messi has achieved what seemed impossible: making the United States a football country," the magazine wrote.
Lionel Messi with the jersey of his American club, Inter Miami. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con - Sam Navarro
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Awarded an eighth Ballon d'Or at the end of October, Messi (36) left Paris Saint-Germain in July to join Inter Miami, a club co-managed by David Beckham, seven months after winning the world championship title at the end of 2022 with Argentina. "My first option was to go back to Barcelona, but it wasn't possible. It's also true that I then considered the Saudi league, a powerful competition that can become important in the future in a country I know," Messi told Time.
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In the end, it was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and I was interested in both options La Pulga continues
Winner of the Leagues Cup in August after his arrival, the club's first trophy, Messi then made a series of absences as Inter Miami failed to qualify for the league play-offs. In 2024, in addition to MLS, the Argentine will be expected at the Copa America in June and July in the United States. The draw is scheduled for Thursday.
Messi has not closed the door on a possible participation in a 6th World Cup in 2026, played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Lionel Messi is TIME's 2023 Athlete of the Year https://t.co/qPR75Hgt6f pic.twitter.com/EXqxl08lZN
— TIME (@TIME) December 5, 2023
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