Messi and De Paul to postpone Inter Miami return until after FIFA World Cup 2026 final

A report states Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will delay their return to Inter Miami until after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Both took part in Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final extra-time loss to Spain, and Messi played the entire 120 minutes.

The development concerns two established members of Inter Miami's squad, according to the report. Argentina reached the tournament's final, where Spain prevailed 1-0 in extra time. Messi was on the pitch for the entire match, completing the full 120 minutes. Rodrigo De Paul also featured for Argentina in that decisive fixture.

According to the report, the pair will remain away from club duties until the World Cup final has been completed. That delay is linked directly to their participation in the tournament's concluding match. The coverage frames the postponement as a consequence of the players' roles in Argentina's final.

The final itself ended in a 1-0 victory for Spain after extra time. Messi's continuous presence through the full 120 minutes is highlighted in the match account. Both players were involved in the fixture that decided the championship.

Inter Miami will be without Messi and De Paul until they return after the final, per the report. The timing of their reappearance at the club is therefore pushed back pending the conclusion of the World Cup. The same report that confirmed their involvement in the final also described the postponed return.

The reporting does not offer additional minute-by-minute statistics for Rodrigo De Paul beyond confirming he participated in the match. It emphasizes Messi's completion of the entire 120 minutes as a notable detail from the final. Those match facts form the basis cited for the delay in their club comeback.

The information is presented as a report rather than as an official statement from the club. It links Argentina's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain with the decision to postpone the duo's return. Messi's complete 120-minute involvement is repeatedly noted in that context.

The delayed return follows Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final and Messi's full 120-minute appearance. Per the report, both players will rejoin Inter Miami only after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final has concluded.