Inter Miami coach says Argentina will miss Lionel Messi after international retirement

Inter Miami head coach Kelly Gonzalez says Lionel Messi will be deeply missed by Argentina following his international retirement, but believes supporters should make the most of the time the forward has left with the Major League Soccer club.

Speaking on Friday, Gonzalez reflected on Messi’s farewell appearance against Benin, describing the occasion as an intensely emotional experience.

“It was incredibly intense. Obviously, I was very close to him, but in the end, that moment belonged entirely to him. It was his own moment,” Gonzalez said, as reported by ESPN.

“All that mattered was that he enjoyed it. I simply told him to enjoy himself and take in all the love, not only from Argentina but from the whole world.”

Gonzalez acknowledged that Messi would no longer be seen wearing the Argentina shirt, but said the player remained fully focused on his current life in Miami.

“He will be missed in that shirt, of course, but today he is here with us and we have to enjoy having him with us now,” he said.

“He will miss it too, from the day he retires until the last day of his life. I have no doubt that the national team, for him, was about wearing that shirt. He will always miss the impact he made and the legacy he created there.

“But unfortunately, we will not see him in that shirt any more, so those of us here have to enjoy it. Now he belongs to us, so I have to enjoy him.”

The Inter Miami manager also praised Messi’s competitiveness and the influence he continues to have on those around him.

“Leo brings a certain mentality every day. He demands 100% from his team-mates and from every one of us in every aspect,” Gonzalez said.

“He is a natural competitor. You see it in every training session, and it is remarkable. He is 39 years old, yet he continues to pursue new challenges. That is fantastic for everyone, not only his team-mates but also the coaching staff and the club. He pushes you to be better every day.”

Gonzalez said Messi had created a lasting legacy with Argentina and was now doing the same at Inter Miami, where his arrival had changed the club.

“That is why he is a role model. As I said before, he will be missed by the national team because he left a legacy there, and he is leaving one here too. The club has changed from the moment he arrived,” he said.

“He pushes us to improve every day and to prepare in every way. He is happy, and I see him enjoying his time. That also makes me very happy.”

Messi and Inter Miami return to action on Saturday evening against DC United at No Stadium, their first match since the international break.

Inter Miami are third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points from 27 matches. They are currently on a five-game winless run in MLS, having drawn one and lost one of their last four league matches.

The club did, however, beat Cruz Azul 2-0 in the Campeones Cup on 16 September.