Messi Could Play Copa Libertadores With Inter Miami – And the Club Is Not Ruling It Out
A joke from CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has turned into a genuine conversation: Inter Miami confirm they have explored entering the Copa Libertadores, which would put Lionel Messi in South America's great club competition for the first time.
A joke that refuses to die
The idea began as a joke. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez quipped that Lionel Messi should feature in the Copa Libertadores before ending his club career – the one continental crown missing from the most complete trophy cabinet in football history. But Inter Miami are not laughing it off.
After the club's 4-0 home win over D.C. United on October 11, which ended a four-match winless run, the Inter Miami boss was asked about the suggestion. According to ESPN, the coach said it came as no surprise, revealing the club has been working on the idea for years: "It does not surprise me, because I already knew about [Dominguez mentioning it to Messi]. Besides, my understanding is that we have been exploring this possibility for a few years now."
"Obviously, we would love it because it would be amazing; plus, as you said, it is one of the few trophies Leo is missing, so I think that really got him excited too. We will see, the decision-making process is a bit of a formality at this point, but we are ready for anything, and he certainly is," he added.
It is the clearest signal yet that the Libertadores dream is a real internal project – not just fan fantasy.
Mascherano: 'I would love it'
Head coach Javier Mascherano has also spoken publicly about the idea. Before the team travelled to Peru for a friendly against Alianza Lima, the Argentine did not hide his enthusiasm at a press conference.
"Obviously, for us, being able to take part in the Copa Libertadores would be fantastic, personally I'd love it. But I have no idea if it's possible or not. I can't say. I know Mexican teams took part at one point and then stopped. If the possibility exists, I hope it does, but that will depend on the organizers," Mascherano said.
His candour is telling. Coaches rarely talk so openly about competitions they have no prospect of entering. Mascherano knows the decision rests with CONMEBOL and with MLS, but he clearly wants the football world to know the club is interested.
Jorge Mas confirms talks with CONMEBOL
The push is coming from the very top. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has confirmed he has personally spoken with CONMEBOL about a potential Libertadores appearance, though he acknowledges there has been no concrete progress.
"Obviously, a tournament like the Copa Libertadores, I would love to see Inter Miami take part someday to compete against the giants of South America. It's a competition Leo has never played in. Those are our aspirations," Mas said. "It's a dream. I've had conversations with CONMEBOL and with Alejandro [Dominguez] to see if participation in the Copa Libertadores is possible."
Mas pointed to precedent: Mexican clubs played in the Libertadores for years before stopping. If Liga MX sides could be accommodated, the argument goes, why not an MLS club with the biggest player on the planet?
The one trophy Messi has never touched
What gives the story its emotional weight is simple: despite being South American, Lionel Messi has never played in the Copa Libertadores. He left Newell's Old Boys for Barcelona as a youth, long before he could turn professional in Argentina, and his entire club career has been played in Europe and North America.
Five Champions League titles with Barcelona, but never the Libertadores – South America's equivalent, and the competition that made legends of Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona and every Argentine great of the past. For a player who has just retired from international football with the World Cup won, the Libertadores would complete a narrative no one else in history could claim.
The quotes from the Inter Miami camp suggest Messi himself is excited by the idea. As the coach put it, "it is one of the few trophies Leo is missing, so I think that really got him excited too."
Why it could actually happen
Inter Miami have already shown they can force football's institutions to make room for them. They played in the FIFA Club World Cup after their Supporters' Shield triumph, reaching the last 16, and they won their first MLS Cup in 2025 by beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final.
Commercially, a Libertadores featuring Messi would be a monster: massive audiences, broadcast value and sponsorship on a scale the competition has never seen from a guest team. CONMEBOL has already shown it is open to the idea – Dominguez himself raised it, and outlook reporting this year said the confederation has been considering inviting MLS and Liga MX clubs.
There are real obstacles: scheduling, long-haul travel, time zones, operating costs, and the politics of fitting a CONCACAF club into a CONMEBOL competition. MLS clubs normally contest the CONCACAF Champions Cup, not South American tournaments. Mexican clubs last appeared in the Libertadores in 2016, when Pumas reached the quarter-finals, before withdrawing over calendar conflicts.
Messi's Miami form says he is ready
If the Libertadores ever comes, Messi would arrive as the best player in MLS by a distance. The 4-0 win over D.C. United was his first appearance since returning from international duty with Argentina, and he scored twice – a close-range finish assisted by Luis Suarez in the 47th minute and a second on the hour.
The brace took him to 23 goals and 13 assists in the 2026 season, leading the Golden Boot race, and extended his run of goal contributions to 10 consecutive MLS matches. The win also left Miami 14 points behind table-toppers Nashville SC on 63 points, with the playoff race tightening.
For now, the Libertadores remains, in Mascherano's own honest framing, a hope that "will depend on the organizers." But the convergence of signals – a joking CONMEBOL president, a coach who says the club has explored it for years, an owner confirming talks – suggests this dream is further along than anyone expected. Messi may yet get his last first.
Questions people ask
What is the Copa Libertadores?
The Copa Libertadores is CONMEBOL's annual continental club competition – South America's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. Lionel Messi has never played in it, one of the few honours missing from his trophy cabinet.
Is Messi confirmed to play in the Copa Libertadores?
It is only a possibility, not a confirmed development. Inter Miami's coach (via ESPN) said the club has explored the idea for years, co-owner Jorge Mas confirmed talks with CONMEBOL, and nothing concrete has been agreed.
Has Messi retired from football?
Messi is 39 and has retired from international football after the Benin farewell, but he remains an Inter Miami player. His club career continues in MLS, where he leads the 2026 Golden Boot race with 23 goals.
What have Inter Miami said publicly about the idea?
Jorge Mas said he would love Inter Miami to face "the giants of South America" in a competition "Leo has never played in." Mascherano called the idea "fantastic," adding it depends on the organisers.
Have non-South American clubs played in the Libertadores before?
MLS clubs normally compete in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, not South American tournaments. Mexican clubs previously took part in the Libertadores, with the last appearance in 2016.
Why has Messi never played in the Copa Libertadores?
Messi has never played in the Libertadores despite being South American – he left Newell's Old Boys for Barcelona as a youth before he could turn professional in Argentina.
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