Amazed by Messi at 38 years old

At 38 years old, Lionel Messi is still surprising the football world .

The new contract that runs until 2028 with Inter Miami is not only a tribute to a legend but also a statement: he is still capable of shaping games, making a difference, and maintaining a timeless class.

After winning the 2024 MLS Player of the Year award with 20 goals and 16 assists, Messi has been even more prolific in 2025: 29 goals, the MLS Golden Boot, and helping Miami score 81 goals - double the 2023 season (41 goals), when he joined just halfway through. Inter Miami is no longer an upstart; they have become the most feared attacking machine in America, and every cog in that machine revolves around the name Messi.

The 'Camp Nou Band' reunites – and Messi is the conductor again

Since Messi arrived in Florida, Inter Miami has not only acquired a superstar, but also recreated the “golden age” of Barcelona. Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez – three players who played alongside him during his most brilliant period at Camp Nou – have reunited. And they have brought immediate results.

Busquets is still the silent conductor. He has made 8 successful passes, the highest number in MLS and even surpasses many players in the top five European leagues. The Busquets - Messi duo brought home 6 goals, equaling the efficiency of the Forsberg - Choupo-Moting duo at New York Red Bulls.

Jordi Alba, with his speed and familiar thinking, set up Messi 5 times with exemplary crosses and reverse passes. And Luis Suarez, despite being 38 years old, still understands Messi with every step, every look. That quartet reminds us of the atmosphere of Camp Nou years ago - where just one touch of the ball was enough to write a moment.

That understanding helps Messi maintain his killer instinct. He exceeds his expected goals (xG) by more than 6 goals, meaning his finishing ability remains superb. Notably, none of his 29 goals have come from 6 meters away, a testament to his positioning and tricky finishing - something MLS has never seen before.

Messi of 2025 is no longer on the move as constantly as he was when he was younger, but he still "embraces" the creative space.

The Messi of 2025 is no longer as mobile as he was in his youth, but he still “embraces” the creative space. 44 through balls, more than 10 shots per game, 3 decisive goals and 2 assists that brought victory in just 8 games at the end of the season - those numbers are not only about efficiency, but also about absolute influence.

In the run-in, when Inter Miami had to win to stay atop the Eastern Conference, Messi scored 10 goals and assisted nine, pulling the team through the pressure. The 5-2 win over Nashville, where he scored a hat trick, was a powerful statement: At 38, he is still a match-winner.

Messi’s touchline in MLS is almost a signature. He no longer has to drop deep; with Busquets and De Paul behind him, Messi is free to concentrate entirely on the last 30 metres of the pitch – where a turn can make all the difference. Messi picks his spots, dictates the tempo, forces mistakes with his gaze and the pass that only he can see.

And like any genius, Messi still defies modern soccer logic. According to data from SkillCorner, he runs the second least and sprints the least among MLS forwards. He has only made 43 defensive actions in 28 games, fewer than his combined goals and assists (45). But with Messi, there's no need to run—just make the other team run around him.

The allure of the time traveler

The arrival of Rodrigo De Paul in the summer transfer window - a contract from Atletico Madrid - shows that Miami clearly understands what needs to be done to make Messi most comfortable. De Paul was Messi's "shield" at the 2022 World Cup, helping Argentina win the championship by doing the heavy lifting to let the genius have freedom. In Miami, coach Javier Mascherano - Messi's former teammate - is applying a similar formula.

Result: Inter Miami became a team with brilliant attacking play, turning DRV PNK Stadium into a "performance stage" for Messi and his teammates. They won 6/8 games at the end of the season, finishing the season in third place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the leading team Philadelphia Union.

Messi is still Messi - a living legend who continues to write his final chapter with football that no one can copy.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing is not the goals or the trophies, but the feeling that Messi is still enjoying every minute of playing football. When most players of his generation have retired or stepped down, he still makes MLS stands explode with joy every time he touches the ball.

At 38, Messi is no longer in the running for the Ballon d'Or, nor does he need to prove anything more. But the telling numbers - 29 goals, 16 assists, 44 through balls, 81 team goals - still confirm: this genius has not yet died out. He is just shining in another sky.

Messi is still Messi - a living legend who continues to write his final chapter with football that no one can copy.

Source: https://znews.vn/kinh-ngac-truoc-messi-tuoi-38-post1596720.html