Jake is a Football and Entertainment betting expert, with a Man City season ticket and a deep knowledge of reality TV betting angles
- Lionel Messi is now just 11/4 to make a shock return to Barcelona in the January window
- Messi was announced as the Time Athlete of the Year on Tuesday
- Argentina are 8/1 to win the 2026 World Cup
Lionel Messi is now just 11/4 to make a shock return to Barcelona in the January window
Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is now just 11/4 to sign for Barcelona in the January transfer window with bookies offering odds on a potential move for the player.
It may be that Messi follows in the footsteps of MLS icon Landon Donovan, who had used the January window in the past for loan spells at Everton to build his fitness up ahead of the new season.
Barcelona would snatch at the chance to re-sign Messi for a short-term loan spell with the revenue made more than enough to cover any potential wages.
Inter Miami owner David Beckham told Time Magazine that Barcelona signing Messi before he joined the club had him "worried" as he never got to say goodbye to fans at the Nou Camp.
A short loan spell in January could well be the perfect way for Messi to finally close the chapter on his Barcelona career with the latest odds at 11/4 to sign for the club.
| Lionel Messi Next Club | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 11/4 | 26.7% |
| Inter Milan | 20/1 | 4.8% |
| Man City | 20/1 | 4.8% |
| Juventus | 25/1 | 3.8% |
What the expert says...
Messi was announced as the Time Athlete of the Year on Tuesday
Tuesday saw Lionel Messi announced as the Time Athlete of the Year with his move to Inter Miami firmly the main reasoning behind him being picked for the award.
Time speak highly of Messi's debut for the bottom placed team in the MLS at the time Inter Miami with a last minute winner against Cruz Azul making the US stand up to his arrival.
Seven months before, Messi was leading Argentina to winning the World Cup in Saudi Arabia and Messi himself said that he was contemplating joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi League.
"“It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future,” the Argentinian told Time.
Argentina are 8/1 to win the 2026 World Cup
Argentina's dramatic win against France in the 2022 World Cup Final finally saw Lionel Messi win the remaining trophy he was after in his career.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in North America with France and Brazil the joint favourites to win the most famous competition in World football.
Argentina are 4th favourites in the betting market at 8/1 and as of now it's expected that Messi will be part of the squad competing at the tournament.
| 2026 World Cup Winner | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| France | 11/2 | 15.4% |
| Brazil | 11/2 | 15.4% |
| England | 13/2 | 13.3% |
| Argentina | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Spain | 9/1 | 10.0% |
