Isnt it bit like how much fuel he has left in his tank to play at the highest level? Also about "retiring on a high". Going into semi retirement after winning the WC and possibly a 8th Balon D'or is about as good a ending you can have at 36.
All that "he's finished" stuff feels a bit artificial to me considering he still is the second highest scorer in all top 5 leagues as a CAM. Anyway, I generally get the idea of retiring at your best but as it seems it is either Barca or Al Hilal right now and in that case the semi retirement option is one with a very bad aftertaste. Would be a different story if he was to join his boyhood club in Argentina or at least an MLS franchise. But with these options on the table, I don't get how anybody can root for the semi retirement option.
In general, I think the Ibrahimovic/Buffon way is the nicest. Play a part time role at a top team until you're finished. Or the David Silva/Rakitic/etc. way of playing for a smaller club that's happy to have you around and surrounds you with hard working players.
Well you seems wanting him to move back to Barca instead and taking 1/20th of salary he could make in Saudi. I think that’s fair on fans perspective.
But let’s be realistic, at some stage in the near future, he would decline sharply too, due to inevitable aging/when his legs are gone. Would it be really good scene to watch when it reached to a that point, when undroppable Messi hindering the progress/result for Barcelona, or when unhappy Messi sitting on the bench being pictured all over the headlines every other weeks?
Even if we pretend that won’t happen anytime soon, we all know Barca is currently struggling with their finance and compliance with FFP rules, and registration of their best young players. Besides, they are also currently facing corruption charges which could possibly end up in worst ever consequence in football.
Should Messi really need to risk his final years putting himself in such mess?
And let’s not forget Messi does care his money more than you thought of him - his controversial 550m contract with Barca, his infamous tax fraud, and his current big money contract with Saudi on ambassador role.
Risk his final years? Come on. What would he risk that he's not going to lose when he's going to Saudi Arabia, anyway?
And I think being an impact sub and occasional starter at a top club at 36+ is fine. As long as you don't make a fuss, obviously.