Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi has been honored once again as Time Magazine's 2023 Athlete of the Year. The 36-year-old soccer superstar revealed in an interview that after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, his primary goal was to return to La Liga giants Barcelona, however that did not happen. He considered traveling to Saudi Arabia for a new opportunity, but ultimately decided to join the International Miami of Major League Soccer.
At the end of October, Messi won the Ballon d'Or for a historic eighth time, followed by his election as Time Magazine's 2023 Athlete of the Year, coupled with his dramatic move to the International Miami, which left soccer fans around the world in awe. Messi confessed that his initial idea was to return to La Liga: My first choice was to return to Barcelona, for which I put in a lot of effort but failed to do so. Later I also considered joining a club in Saudi Arabia, I know something about that country and they are building a competitive league. As a tourist ambassador for Saudi Arabia, playing there was a real attraction. In fact, the Saudi League and Major League Soccer are both interesting options.
