"Messi Cup": Lionel Messi creates his own competition (official) | OneFootball

Exclusive

Lionel Messi

Major announcement! FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has just launched his own tournament.

As his career nears its twilight, Lionel Messi is making the most of every opportunity. While he awaits the 2026 World Cup, La Pulga is working on several post-career projects. Among them is the creation of a competition for young players. Lionel Messi has now established the Messi Cup—a tournament that will see the best U16 clubs from around the globe go head-to-head.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner announced the news this Tuesday on Instagram. "I can finally tell you that a very special youth tournament is coming to Miami this December with several of the best clubs in the world. And there will be many more activities during those days. I hope you like it! I'm excited to finally share this with you—in December, Miami will host a very special youth football tournament featuring some of the world's top clubs. The future of the game will be on full display, and it's not just about matches—we've planned some incredible days filled with plenty of other exciting activities. This is about the next generation. I hope you enjoy it! This is the MessiCup." he announced.

The tournament will take place in Florida.