After a saddening 1-0 loss for Argentina against Spain on Sunday’s World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium, team captain Lionel Messi took to Instagram to post about the defeat.
“The pain is so great and it’s going to be hard for me to close this wound,” Messi shared.
The question begs however, what is next for Messi’s soccer career and when will he possibly return to New Jersey?
Messi is taking a break to recover from the World Cup tournament per FIFPRO, the global representative organization of football players, which calls for a 21-day break for players for their health after the end of each season.
After the game, the team flew back to Argentina, while Messi opted to fly to Miami before he travels to Rosario, Argentina to begin his break, according to ESPN.
It is unclear though whether Messi is going to use up all 21 days as the amount of vacation time is planned with his team Inter Miami, but sources have confirmed he will be sitting out of matches against CF Montréal on Saturday and the MLS All-Star match on July 29, according to ESPN.
It is estimated that Messi will return to scheduled matches with Inter Miami in mid-August. The exact date is unknown.
Despite not knowing his specific return date to scheduled matches with Inter Miami, his contract with the club is valid until December 2028, according to intermiamicf.com.
He is scheduled to return to New Jersey on Oct. 24, 2026, when he plays against the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
New Jersey fans who missed him at the World Cup should have at least a little easier time seeing him for the Red Bulls game.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: When will Lionel Messi return to NJ? Mark this match on your calendar
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