Conmebol President Alejandro Domínguez issued a public challenge to Lionel Messi: to play in the Copa Libertadores, the trophy still missing from the Argentine star’s vast trophy case.
Lionel Messi‘s farewell to the Argentina national team was marked by a stellar performance and an unusual invitation. During the ceremony at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, the president of the South American Football Confederation, Alejandro Domínguez, urged the player to complete his winning resume by participating in the continent’s biggest club tournament.
The moment gained traction on social media, reigniting debates about the possibility of the star returning to South American football. Although the number 10 received the proposal with a smile, there was no immediate response regarding a potential move toward the Libertadores.
A gap on the trophy shelf
Over more than two decades of his professional career, Messi has piled up trophies, highlighted by four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona. However, the absence of the Libertadores is a curious point in his journey, as the athlete built his career almost entirely on European soil before moving to the United States.
Currently tied to Inter Miami of MLS, the forward has a contract running through the end of 2028. The logistics for a potential venture into the continental tournament would require a significant shift in his sporting plans, something the head of South American football seems willing to encourage.
The executive stated:
I believe the only thing missing for you is to play in the Libertadores. Do you accept the challenge?
The emotional factor and the future
Domínguez even mentioned Newell’s Old Boys, Messi‘s boyhood club in Rosario, as a symbolic destination for this possible adventure. However, the technical feasibility of this scenario depends entirely on the Argentine team’s performance in local competitions, a fundamental requirement to secure a spot in the South American tournament.
The farewell night at the Monumental, which featured a 3–0 victory over Benin, served as the pinnacle of a 208-match, 126-goal career for the Argentina national team. With the closing of his international chapter, Messi‘s focus turns entirely to his challenges in the United States, while South American fans harbor the remote hope of seeing the greatest player of his generation shine, even if briefly, on South American pitches.
