Messi Makes 55-Man World Cup List

Lionel Messi just landed on Argentina’s 55-man provisional World Cup roster, with the final tournament kicking off across North America in June. At 38, Messi is putting up absurd numbers for Inter Miami—averaging a goal or assist every 83 minutes this MLS season and recently becoming the fastest in league history to 100 goal contributions. But with the World Cup on the horizon, he faces the ultimate club vs. country juggling act: can he keep Inter Miami rolling while preserving himself for a title run with Argentina? The stakes are massive, not just for his legacy but for Miami’s ambitions and Argentina’s hopes of back-to-back titles.

But here’s the catch: Inter Miami’s payroll is blowing the league away, with Messi’s salary alone topping $28 million guaranteed—over $20 million more than LAFC’s top star. That investment demands results, especially with fixture congestion looming and the risk that Messi could be sidelined mid-season for international duty. Miami are banking on their Argentine spine—Rodrigo De Paul’s assists, German Berterame’s goals—to keep winning even if Messi’s minutes are managed. The pressure is on to get the balance right, both to protect Messi’s health and to justify the massive spend.

Featuring insights and reporting from Sports Illustrated, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, the BBC, Newsday, Sportsnet, and NBC 6 South Florida.

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