Lionel Messi & Rodrigo De Paul to delay Inter Miami return after FIFA World Cup 2026 final - Report
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Messi is set for a long break after the FIFA World Cup 2026 participation.
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will take their time returning to Inter Miami CF for the MLS season after representing Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to ESPN.
Lionel Messi and De Paul both participated in Argentina‘s 1-0 World Cup final extra-time loss to Spain. The captain played the entire 120 minutes. Messi started seven out of Argentina’s eight World Cup games.
FIFPRO, the global representative body for professional footballers, has recommended a 21-day rest time at the end of each season for health reasons.
Lionel Messi to remain out of action for 21 days
FIFA considered the demands during a meeting with FIFPRO in 2025. They obtained an agreement on the project.
“FIFA and the player unions reviewed upcoming joint projects involving the world’s football governing body and players’ representative organisations, with a specific focus on player rest and recovery, as well as competitions within the context of the International Match Calendar (IMC),” FIFA said in a statement.
“There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season.”
“This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.”
It’s uncertain whether the two players will be absent for the full prescribed 21 days. Messi and De Paul are likely to schedule their separate days off in coordination with Inter Miami. It is believed that both will be out for the games against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday and CF Montréal on Saturday.
According to sources, the Herons have informed the league body that Lionel Messi and De Paul would be unavailable for the MLS All-Star game on July 29. It falls within the 21-day restriction.
How long will Lionel Messi be out for Inter Miami?
It will mainly depend on his decision.
How many days of rest will Lionel Messi get after playing the World Cup 2026?
The players’ union FIFPRO agreed with FIFA to give players playing in the World Cup a 21-day rest period.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.