Messi will hightail it to Miami

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This article was published 01/01/2021 (2052 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lionel Messi will join Inter Miami of Major League Soccer in 2021.

Based on what? Well, a number of factors. Admittedly, no one knows for sure. So call it a gut feel, a forecast — the first in my bold predictions for a bold New Year.

Spanish outlet Cadena Ser claims the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will make the move in 2023. Based on what? He nearly left Barcelona last summer and if anything the situation at the club has only gotten worse in the few months since.

Sure, Blaugrana manager Ronald Koeman recently chided his boss, president Carlos Tusquets, for saying he regretted not cutting the unsettled 33-year-old loose, but Barcelona under Koeman are a dumpster fire, sixth in La Liga and 10 points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid. Even the Dutchman concedes they’re already out of the title race.

What evidence is there to suggest that Messi will sign another one-year contract when his current one expires? And then another one after that? He already owns a US$13-million property in Miami (at Porsche Tower, which features a super-cool car elevator) and has signalled that he’d like to play in the United States, where he could organize a reunion with former teammate Luis Suarez.

Having won everything there is to win in Europe, and multiple times, the Argentine has absolutely nothing to prove. He’ll retire as the greatest footballer in history, and a new life at a new club might even prolong his career. At the very least he’ll enjoy his football again.

It’s really a quality-of-life decision. Messi is miserable in Barcelona, where he used to be happy. The club is rebuilding, and he’s in his mid-thirties. Money is no issue. He can pick his next club, and by all accounts that club will be Inter Miami.

The only question is “when.” It says here it’ll be in 2021.

Messi will also win the Copa America this year. It’s my second bold prediction, and, given that Argentina haven’t won the tournament since 1993, it might even be more risky than my first. La Albiceleste are co-hosting the June 11-July 10 competition with Colombia and will play their group stage matches at home. An international title is the only thing Cristiano Ronaldo has that Messi doesn’t, but that’ll be rectified in the Barranquilla final.

Speaking of Ronaldo, he’ll add a second continental crown to his trophy case, and just a day after Messi lifts the Copa America. In other words, Portugal will repeat as European champions. But it won’t be easy. They’re in a group with France and Germany, and if they finish second they’ll face either England or Croatia in the Round of 16. That said, this Portugal side is even better than the Euro 2016 winners, and although he’ll be 36 next month Ronaldo has shown few signs of slowing down. He scored 37 goals last season and already has 16 from 14 matches this campaign.

The Tokyo Olympics will be yet another venue for international football this summer, and it’s there that Great Britain’s women will win the Gold Medal. England came ever so close to beating the United States at the 2019 World Cup. In Japan, where stars such as Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris will combine with Scotland teammates Rachel Corsie, Kim Little and Erin Cuthbert, Team GB will be unstoppable. The Netherlands and U.S. will also place on the podium. Sorry, Canada.

Finally, none of the world’s biggest leagues will play to full stadiums in the coming year. After recently allowing for modest crowds in some regions, England is going into further lockdown, and La Liga has walked back its proposal to gradually reintroduce fans to grounds in early 2021. Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga have also acquiesced to the reality of the winter’s COVID wave. The fact of the matter is that a broad reopening of stadiums won’t happen until widespread vaccinations have been conducted and proved effective.

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This last prediction might not be particularly bold, but it’s worth pointing out nevertheless. It’s the reality. But it hopefully trends upward from here. All of it.

Personally, I’m looking forward to the stories football give us in 2021. These are just some of them. Others will come out of nowhere, totally surprising us — and not in a shut-it-all-down kind of way. Call me naïve, but I’m choosing to be hopeful. I hope you are, too.

Here’s to a New Year of football. May it give us all a bit of joy.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Twitter @JerradPeters