At 37, Lionel Messi remains an irreplaceable icon at Inter Miami and teammate Federico Redondo believes he can play at the top level until he is 45.
At 37, Lionel Messi remains one of the best players in the world and continues to be an irreplaceable player at Inter Miami. Recently, one of his teammates at the club – Federico Redondo, revealed the reason why Messi can continue to play at the top level for many more years, possibly even extending his career until he is 45.
Redondo – who joined Inter Miami last year, said that Messi is not only talented but also possesses a special quality that sets him apart from other great players.
“There are many talented players, but in my opinion, no one can compare to him. In addition to his outstanding talent, he has won every title, even many times. In every training session, he always gives his all and is constantly hungry for victory. In every match, he sets the goal of winning, and if he fails, he will feel very miserable,” Redondo shared.

Federico Redondo plays as a defensive midfielder for Inter Miami.
In particular, Redondo stressed that it is this desire to win that has been a key factor in Messi’s great success in his career. “I believe that is the key: he has won everything because he suffered so much when he lost,” Redondo added.
When asked about how long Messi will continue to play, Redondo was quite optimistic. “I will not speak for him, but when I see him training every day, I think he can play until he is 45,” he said. This is an interesting observation, as Messi will be 39 by the time the 2026 World Cup takes place. Given his talent and dedication, many believe that Messi still has many years of peak performance ahead of him.

Messi has no intention of retiring in the near future.
On the pitch, Messi not only shows his outstanding talent but is also an ideal teammate, always ready to support other players. Redondo shared: “Playing with Leo is easy. He makes everything simpler: if you have a problem, just pass the ball to him, and he will solve it. Even if the opponent is close, he still handles it well.”
As for Messi’s future, especially at the 2026 World Cup, optimism is still present in the minds of Redondo and his teammates at Inter Miami. Although Messi is 37 years old, what he shows in training sessions and matches shows that he still has a lot of energy and passion to conquer new heights.
Messi’s career can last for a few more years, and if he continues to maintain his current form, it is no surprise that he will still be the brightest star at the 2026 World Cup.