At a historic American Business Forum, with Milei and Trump among the main speakers, Lionel Messi once again demonstrated why he is a global symbol of overcoming adversity
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Lionel Messi was one of the central figures at the America Business Forum held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, an event that brought together top-level figures from the political, economic, and sports spheres. In this edition, the forum featured the presence of Argentine president Javier Milei, former U.S. president Donald Trump, and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, in a setting where ideas of economic freedom and individual leadership dominated the debate.
The captain of the Argentina National Team was interviewed by Miami mayor Francis Suárez and reviewed the major milestones of his career, his personal sacrifices, and his vision for the future. With calmness and clarity, the "Pulga" addressed for the first time in an open manner his business side and the process of transitioning to a new stage of his life.
"I had a very long sports career, I still have it, and I've always had trustworthy people around me. But lately, I've become much more interested in what was being done and what can be done. Soccer has an expiration date, unfortunately. At some point, it ends. I like business, I want to keep learning. I'm just starting out in this," Messi revealed.
The Rosario star, who currently shines at Inter Miami and has a contract until 2028, listed some of his most prominent projects off the field: investments in his own club, a hotel chain, an isotonic beverage brand, and a milanesa restaurant that recently opened in Florida.
Lionel Messi, el mejor futbolista de la historia.
Dressed in a gray suit and white jersey, Messi received a massive ovation as he took the stage. "We had many special guests today, but with no one was there this reaction," Suárez remarked as the audience applauded. "Thank you very much for the welcome and the affection," replied the 38-year-old forward with his characteristic humility.
When asked whether champions "are made or born," Messi was emphatic: "God gave me a gift, He chose me. And since I was little, I had it, but along the way I made a lot of sacrifices, there was a lot of effort to strengthen that gift. There are many people who have talent, but to be a professional you have to make a very big sacrifice. I did everything possible to achieve it. I'm grateful to God who gave me the most important thing."
The most emotional moment came when he recalled the 2022 Qatar World Cup final and the triumph with the Argentina National Team: "Explaining the feelings of that moment is difficult. What that title meant was demonstrated in how the country celebrated. It was special, because for a player winning the World Cup is the ultimate. It was what was missing to close my career with that trophy."
He compared that emotion to the birth of his children, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, stating that "it's so great that anything you say falls short."
With composure, Messi also reflected on the years of frustration that preceded success: "I always tried to take positive things from all those defeats. In a sport, you win and you lose. In failures, the essential people are family and those who truly love you." From Florida, the Argentine captain described his present with balance: "I enjoy being able to take my children to training, having them come to my matches, spending more time with Antonela. The kids are passionate, they're with the ball every day."
The star also highlighted the economic and sporting impact of his arrival in the United States: "Inter Miami helped the city make a change in terms of boosting soccer, but MLS has also grown tremendously. We're fortunate to play in full stadiums, soccer in general has grown and it's increasingly evident."
Messi, true to his style, summed up the value of that philosophy in one sentence: "I've always dedicated myself 100% to the profession, but I know another world is coming, and little by little I'm getting involved." Messi received the key to the city of Miami in recognition of his legacy and his contribution to the development of sports in the United States.
Among the attendees were also FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and tennis legends Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal.
