Lionel Messi has agreed to a contract extension with Inter Miami that can 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 midst 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 completely happy to remain right here and to proceed with this challenge that, apart from being a dream, has change into a fantastic actuality – enjoying on this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park,” Messi, 38, stated in a membership assertion.
“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very completely happy, so I’m really glad to maintain going right here,” Messi added.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham stated Messi’s resolution to increase mirrored his “dedication to the town, to the membership, to the sport”.
“He’s nonetheless as dedicated as he’s ever been and he nonetheless desires to win,” Beckham stated. “As homeowners to have a participant that loves the sport as a lot as he does, and who has completed 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 seen as a formality after membership sources advised 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 the US, 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 report attendances and ticketing revenues.
“When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of selection, it marked a turning level – not only for Inter Miami, however for our total sport in North America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated 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 12 months.
He has scored 114 worldwide targets and in addition gained the Copa America twice with Argentina, in 2021 and 2024.
Messi might play at a sixth World Cup subsequent 12 months, which might set a brand new all-time report, though he might be matched by longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner can also be simply three targets wanting Miroslav Klose’s report of 16 profession World Cup targets.
Argentina comfortably booked a spot at subsequent 12 months’s finals, ending 9 factors clear on the high of the South American qualifying desk.
Messi completed as the highest scorer with eight targets, together with a brace in what could have been his final aggressive match on house soil towards Venezuela two weeks in the past.
He was named the MLS’s most useful participant within the 2024 season although Inter Miami have been eradicated within the playoffs.
In 2025, he grew to become the quickest participant to achieve 40 targets in MLS historical past.
This season, Messi has led Miami again into the playoffs after ending in third place within the Jap 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 targets from 28 matches to win MLS’s Golden Boot award.
