Cruyff still is my favorite player ever, but I think Messi is the best player ever. Both he and CR7 stay in fantastic shape, but you can’t outrun time, and I think both have slowed down dramatically. That impacts CR7’s game more because he always relied more on his speed. CR7 never was renowned for his passing, unlike Messi.
As brilliant a player as he has been, I also think Messi made the worst mistake he could have made when he was 18 and chose to play for Argentina over Spain. He has lived in Barcelona since he was 13 and could have chosen to play for the Spanish National Team. Back in 2008, the one thing Spain lacked was a devastating scorer. They had Fernando Torres and David Villa (in 2012) but that was really it as far as forwards go. I mean Pedro Rodriguez started up front for Spain in 2012 and 2016.
Besides winning in 2012, I could see Spain winning perhaps two more Cups with Messi. That is the one blot many people say tarnishes his resume: that he has never led Argentina to a World Cup. My word, without him Argentina might not have qualified for a World Cup after Maradona retired.
I don’t see him going to Miami unless it is for the benefit of his kids’ schooling. I know he and Pep still are close and Pep thinks the two years he spent in NYC were very important for him and his family. Despite living in Catalonia for 21 years, Messi’s Catalan is rudimentary. His English is basically non-existent whereas Pep’s was almost fluent before NYC. I don’t think Messi would be very comfortable in Miami although it is the American big city where his Spanish would be most at home.
Both his family and his wife’s family now are all settled in Barcelona, so I don’t think the returning for a year to play in Rosario before retiring will happen either. I think the most likely scenario is a return to Barcelona for a final year or two. I then think he will coach. He doesn’t seem like the type to enjoy retiring early.