Lionel Messi has agreed to a contract extension with Inter Miami that may see the Argentine famous person stay in Main League Soccer (MLS) till the tip of the 2028 season, the membership has confirmed.
Inter Miami’s X feed posted a video of Messi signing a contract sitting at a desk in the course of the membership’s new Freedom Park stadium, which is beneath development in Miami, Florida within the US, with the straightforward caption: “He’s Dwelling”.
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“It makes me actually pleased to remain right here and to proceed with this venture that, moreover being a dream, has turn into an attractive actuality – enjoying on this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park,” Messi, 38, mentioned in a membership assertion.
“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very pleased, so I’m actually glad to maintain going right here,” Messi added.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham mentioned Messi’s determination to increase mirrored his “dedication to town, to the membership, to the sport”.
“He’s nonetheless as dedicated as he’s ever been and he nonetheless desires to win,” Beckham mentioned. “As homeowners to have a participant that loves the sport as a lot as he does, and who has executed as a lot for the sport on this nation and to encourage the subsequent technology of younger expertise as he has, we really feel very fortunate.”
The World Cup-winner’s present contract expires on the finish of the 2025 MLS season.
A brand new deal had been considered as a formality after membership sources instructed AFP final month that the franchise had reached an settlement on an extension.
Messi’s contract ensures he’ll stay in aggressive motion till and lengthy after the 2026 World Cup hosted by america, Canada and Mexico.
Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023 after an sad spell at Paris Saint-Germain and has since had a transformative impact on the league, driving file attendances and ticketing revenues.
“When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of alternative, it marked a turning level – not only for Inter Miami, however for our total sport in North America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber mentioned Thursday as he welcomed information of Messi’s contract extension.
Messi spent the majority of his stellar profession at Barcelona, the place he performed from 2004 to 2021 after coming via the Spanish giants’ youth system.
At Barcelona, he gained the La Liga title 10 occasions and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy on 4 events.
In 2022, he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and has expressed a want to attempt to retain the trophy subsequent yr.
He has scored 114 worldwide objectives and likewise gained the Copa America twice with Argentina, in 2021 and 2024.
Messi may play at a sixth World Cup subsequent yr, which might set a brand new all-time file, though he could possibly be matched by longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner can be simply three objectives in need of Miroslav Klose’s file of 16 profession World Cup objectives.
Argentina comfortably booked a spot at subsequent yr’s finals, ending 9 factors clear on the prime of the South American qualifying desk.
Messi completed as the highest scorer with eight objectives, together with a brace in what might have been his final aggressive match on house soil towards Venezuela two weeks in the past.
He was named the MLS’s Most worthy participant within the 2024 season despite the fact that Inter Miami had been eradicated within the playoffs.
In 2025, he turned the quickest participant to succeed in 40 objectives in MLS historical past.
This season, Messi has led Miami again into the playoffs after ending in third place within the Japanese Convention.
He wrapped up Inter Miami’s common season marketing campaign with an outstanding hat-trick final Saturday in a 5-2 demolition of Nashville SC, leaving him with 29 objectives from 28 matches to win MLS’s Golden Boot award.
