In October 2025, Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami through the end of 2028. However, he has not waited until retirement to branch into other areas of football, and he hasn't looked far from home. Since 2015, the Messi family has owned a football club in Messi's hometown of Rosario, home of the "little flea" – Rosario Central Football Club Leones. Several of his relatives and friends still live in the city. The Argentine national team captain holds no official position at the club but has closely followed its development. This past spring, he was seen in Miami watching Leones matches on his phone.

This is truly a family business: the club president is Messi's older brother Matías, who is five years his senior. His sister María Sol and cousin Tomás also hold management positions at the club. Many of Messi's childhood friends also work there, such as Vice President Juan Carlos Ricci. Since its founding, the club has gradually developed, and recently, it has accelerated its progress. The team, originally based in the Alvear district south of Rosario, has since moved its home matches to the Arroyo Seco district further south, and plans to build its own professional stadium.

Rosario Leones Football Club, which previously competed in regional tournaments, joined the national league system in winter 2025. On September 11 that year, the executive committee of the Argentine Football Association voted to directly approve the club's entry into Primera C (fourth tier) without requiring them to compete in amateur promotion tournaments. This "direct access" caused considerable controversy among other clubs that had fought to climb through the divisions for years.

Another controversy involved head coach Víctor Zapata, hired in autumn last year, who did not stay. He left in frustration over unpaid wages. The team is currently managed by Franco Ferrazo and sits second in its division, with hopes of reaching the third tier. "The club's goal is to build a team sustainably. We are shaping the team's style and developing a tactical system," the coach said. Claudio Vivas, a former assistant coach to Marcelo Bielsa, who managed the Argentine national team from 1998 to 2004, has supported the project.

Vivas is a native of Rosario, Argentina's third-largest city with a population of 1.2 million. His father, José Vivas, founded the "Malvinas Youth Academy" of Newell's Old Boys in the early 1980s, where Messi began his football career. "Their work is going very well right now, which is certainly good for Rosario," Vivas remarked. "Rosario previously had only four clubs; now our football strength is greater. I think it's very important to have clubs like Leones in the region, and to have experts involved."

The club's leadership rarely speaks publicly, which has led to considerable speculation. This is mainly due to their cautious approach and a tumultuous past: a few years ago, Spanish judicial authorities investigated transfers from FC Barcelona to the Messi Foundation for building facilities for Rosario Leones, suspecting money laundering and tax evasion. The investigation ultimately found no violations, and the case was closed.

However, it is difficult to separate this club from the halo of Messi's "little flea" legacy. A recent development came in late 2025, when Argentina's Banco Macro became the club's main sponsor, with bank president Jorge Brito, former president of River Plate, leading the effort. Messi himself has participated in several similar football projects: last year, he invested in a Uruguayan club owned by his friend Luis Suárez and his family since 2018. This club, originally named "La Coruña LS," was renamed "La Coruña LSM" after Messi's investment. The team currently competes in Uruguay's national league, won the fourth-tier championship last year, and has since been promoted to the third tier.

Recently, Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, fully acquired Club Unión Esportiva Cornellà, located near Barcelona, which currently competes in Spain's fifth-tier division. Notable players such as Jordi Alba and David Raya developed at this club. Messi's stated objective is to "develop local young talent" through building a youth academy system. Does this hint at his direction after retirement? After all, he will also receive an ownership stake in Inter Miami when his contract ends.

Messi is currently focused on his playing career and has never publicly outlined plans for life after retirement. However, in December last year, he organized the inaugural Messi Cup in Florida, inviting U16 teams from 16 of the world's top clubs. "I think this is how he gives back to football," Vivas said. "When you've devoted three or four decades of your life to football, it's natural that you want to continue doing something in that field." In the future, he may even cross paths again with Mbappé (who owns a stake in Caen) or Cristiano Ronaldo (who owns a stake in Almería) in the football world.

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