Lionel Messi could play in major club tournament with Inter Miami after CONMEBOL ‘request’
Lionel Messi could feature in the 2024 Copa Libertadores after CONMEBOL reportedly made a request to get Inter Miami involved.
The Argentina superstar has given David Beckham's MLS club worldwide attention with nine goals in his first six games.
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And now, according to journalist Hugo Balassone, South American football federation CONMEBOL wants a piece of the action.
The report claims CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez is in talks with AFA president Claudio Tapia about Inter Miami featuring in next year's Copa Libertadores.
The tournament is currently limited to the ten CONMEBOL nations - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
But it could be extended to CONCACAF, including clubs from the United States and Mexico, if plans to expand the tournament are successful.
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Messi never got the chance to play in his native South America's most famous competition after leaving boyhood club Newell's Old Boys as a kid.
Dominiguez reminded Messi of that fact at the draw for this season's Copa Libertadores in March.
Messi was being honoured with a statue in the CONMEBOL museum, next to Pele and Diego Maradona, after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.
And Dominiguez told the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner on stage: "The only cup you’re missing is the Libertadores."
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