The idea of Lionel Messi pulling on a Liverpool shirt sounds more like football folklore than reality, yet fresh reports from Spain have pushed the unthinkable into the conversation.
According to a report by Sport, the Reds are among a group of European clubs exploring the possibility of a short-term loan move for the Inter Miami superstar during the MLS off-season.
The proposal, if it ever moved beyond speculation, would be brief - a four-to-five-week spell at most. From Liverpool's perspective, it would be a calculated gamble rather than a long-term commitment. With the team occasionally struggling for invention in tight matches, a temporary injection of Messi's creativity could offer a solution without disrupting future planning.
Despite being
38, Messi continues to defy the idea of decline. His numbers in the United States have been staggering, even by his own extraordinary standards. In the 2025 calendar year alone, he has registered 43 goals and 25 assists in just 49 appearances, making a mockery of the notion that his best days are behind him. Physically managed and tactically protected, Messi has looked as influential as ever in Miami.
There is also a personal connection that could add intrigue. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, a close ally from Argentina's World Cup-winning squad, would be a familiar face capable of selling the idea from within the dressing room.
However, the biggest obstacle remains Messi himself. Throughout his career, the Argentine icon has shown little interest in testing himself in English football. If a return to Europe were to happen, emotional ties still point towards Barcelona - a destination currently unrealistic due to the club's ongoing financial issues. Italy and Germany appear financially or stylistically unlikely, while France is firmly in the past.
That narrowing of options leaves the Premier League as a theoretical landing spot, yet even then Liverpool feel like an awkward match. The club is not known for indulging in short-term, headline-grabbing deals, and Messi has never needed validation from England's top flight.
For now, the most sensible outcome is that Messi remains in Miami, waits for the MLS season to resume, and allows Europe to keep dreaming. Still, football has a habit of producing twists that defy logic - and in a season already full of surprises, the door to one final shock cannot be completely shut.
