What next for Lionel Messi after conquering Qatar, Europe and the whole of the football world?

Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty rattled the net in Lusail and brought millions to the streets of Buenos Aires. More than 72 hours later, the celebrations are still ongoing, with the streets of Argentina’s capital city painted blue and white.

As Montiel sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way, Argentina players and staff, the broadcast cameras and the eyes of the whole world didn’t turn towards the player who touched the ball the last, as is the custom, but instead zoomed in towards Lionel Messi, who dropped to his knees in the middle of the pitch.

The 35-year-old, who wasn’t born when the great Diego Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, couldn’t hold back tears as he finally managed to lift the trophy that had long eluded him.

Maradona is viewed as no less than a god in the country of 46 million, but he will from now onwards share the honor with his football heir. But in the football world, the little magician stands the tallest after leaving no gaps on his CV.

So what’s next for the man who has a trophy cabinet filled with individual and team honors that not many could come close to, and a collection of mesmerizing moments on the pitch that when described by commentators effortlessly transform into poetic prose?

If the history books of the beautiful game dedicate more pages to Messi’s exploits, they could be mistaken for his biography. Fortunately for his fans, the Argentine hero is in no mood of leaving the pen aside and the fairy-tale script has a few more twists and turns left.

Messi has confirmed he will not retire from Argentina just yet as he wants to don La Albicelestes’ jersey with three stars, while Lionel Scaloni made it clear that the iconic No. 10 should have a place at the next World Cup.

At the club level, the superstar is still under contract with PSG for another six months, and the Qatari-owned outfit are keen to extend his stay in the French capital. He has the opportunity to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League title tally, and with Kylian Mbappe — the only player to score more goals than him in Qatar — alongside him, PSG are in a prime position to win Europe’s most sought-after trophy.

If he decides to depart France, there won’t be a shortage of suitors for the World Cup Golden Ball winner, with his former club Barcelona at the front of the queue. An emotional return to Catalonia, the place that adopted and nurtured Rosario’s son and made him one of its own, so much so that during Argentina’s trophy drought his commitment to his birthplace was questioned by many, would evoke plenty of emotions at a club that owes the most gifted player in their history a better ending.

Messi, who was directly involved in 10 goals in Qatar, might be tempted to push his luck and revive Barcelona’s fortunes. However, he needs to be wary of making decisions from his heart, and take a leaf from Ronaldo’s homecoming to Manchester.

As such, the best option for Messi after conquering the Middle East would be to leave Europe while he’s on top of the world.

Inter Miami, which are co-owned by David Beckham, are interested in signing the Argentine in a deal that would make him the highest-paid player in MLS history.

Messi has previously admitted he’d like to play in the United States one day. He owns a house there and his family should find it easy to settle in a city viewed as the gateway to Latin America.

His arrival would no doubt have a transformational impact on football in the United States and increase its international exposure, and the stateside spell would also help Messi enhance his own interests – both commercial and sporting – ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the continent.

From matching Maradona’s legacy to leaving Ronaldo behind in the GOAT debate, and even beating the famous Egg on Instagram, there’s nothing left of significance for Messi to achieve or prove at the tail-end of his illustrious career.