Neymar Hints at Messi’s Potential Kings League Participation

The Kings League, a unique competition founded by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, features seven-a-side teams competing in a format distinct from traditional football. Several teams are chaired by global superstars, including Neymar, Sergio Aguero, and Robert Lewandowski. The league introduces unconventional gameplay mechanics, such as a ball dropped from a cage, two players from each team on the pitch, and gameplay elements akin to video game power-ups. Notable features include a ‘double goal’ card, ‘reverse penalties’ that reward teams for missing spot-kicks, and the ‘president’s penalty’, where sidelined stars can step onto the pitch to take shots from 12 yards.

In a recent podcast appearance in Brazil, Neymar mentioned that Messi has shown interest in watching the upcoming 2026 Kings League World Cup Nations, which has now entered the knockout stages. Neymar hinted at the possibility of Messi playing in either the semi-finals or the final, saying, “He wrote to me and asked if he could come. I told him I’d check if the booth was full. Messi might come.”

Pique has previously discussed extending an invitation to Messi, stating, “We’re trying to attract all the great legends from the world of traditional football. And Messi is the greatest of them all. Right now, he’s still an active player, playing for Inter Miami. But when he retires, we might have the chance to invite him.”

Echoing Pique’s sentiments, Aguero added, “We haven’t spoken about it. I think it’s a little complicated at the moment with the schedule, but I hope one day he can play for us. Many stars have played and others want to come. We’ve seen Chicharito, Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Shevchenko, and Casillas participate in other teams. There are many players keen to represent Kunisports, but due to timing and distances, it hasn’t been feasible for many. It’s simply a matter of finding suitable dates.”

As Messi focuses on the prospect of playing in the 2026 World Cup in North America, he has yet to confirm his participation with the Argentine national team. He expressed his eagerness, stating, “Obviously, I have so much desire and excitement to be there, but I want to go feeling good about myself, so that I can contribute and be important. It’s about being physically fit to perform at my highest level.”

Regarding the possibility of playing World Cup matches in Miami, Messi noted the significance of the tournament: “The World Cup is always special, the best, playing with the national team, in official competitions. I think this will be a special World Cup, especially being in the United States. It’s going to be extraordinary on an organizational level, despite the long trips involved. It would be wonderful to defend the title we were lucky enough to win and participate again.”

In the upcoming 2026 World Cup, Argentina is set to face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stages, with the first match against European champions Spain in the Finalissima.