Lionel Messi extends Inter Miami contract to 2028

FE Team | Published: October 24, 2025 22:54:05

NEW YORK, Oct 24 (Reuters): Lionel Messi has extended his contract with MLS side Inter Miami to 2028, the club announced on Thursday, a boost for the North American league as the Argentine great keeps his career going.
The eight-times Ballon d'Or winner had previously said that Inter Miami would be his last club but the 38-year-old has given no hint as to his possible retirement, saying that age would not be a factor.
"Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that's exactly what we have done," Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said in a statement.
"He's still as committed as he's ever been and he still wants to win."
The 2022 World Cup winner led the league in goals (29) this season, as Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference.
He was named among five finalists for the league's MVP award on Thursday.
Messi sparked fresh interest in the league when he first signed in 2023, in a critical moment for the sport in North America, with Canada, Mexico and the United States set to host the World Cup next year.
Miami's valuation has doubled since 2022 to $1.2 billion, according to Forbes, which named them the second most valuable team in MLS earlier this year .
"When Lionel Messi made MLS his League of Choice, it marked a turning point - not just for Inter Miami, but for our entire sport in North America," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
"Since then, we've witnessed something truly historic: the greatest player of all time bringing global attention to our league."
The team announced the move in a social media post, one showing Messi signing the contract inside the new stadium that remains under construction. "HE'S HOME," the team said in the post.
"It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality - playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park," Messi said in remarks distributed by the club. "Since I arrived in Miami, I've been very happy, so I'm truly glad to keep going here."
Inter Miami said it was a three-year deal through 2028. The notion of Messi playing two or three more seasons certainly would serve as a boost to ticket sales at the stadium the team has been building near Miami International Airport. The team has been selling ticket packages and taking deposits on seats in the new park for more than a year, all with the assumption that Messi would remain part of the franchise.
His decision to stay in Miami is big for both the club and for MLS. Messi's was the league's MVP last season and is the overwhelming choice to win the award again this year, which would make him only the second two-time winner in league history and the first to win it in back-to-back years. Preki won the MVP award in 1997 and 2003.
"To enjoy him, watching him enjoy doing the things he is doing, he's very, very competitive and he tries to translate that to the team," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Thursday. "The best way to help him is trying to do the right things ... he has to be comfortable on the pitch. He's comfortable when things are working in the right way.
"With him, when we do things the right way, we'll have many chances to have success."
Messi won MLS' Golden Boot this season after scoring 29 goals, five more than LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville's Sam Surridge. He also had 19 assists, and his 48 total goal contributions was one shy of matching the MLS record of 49 set by Carlos Vela in 2019.
This season, Messi had multiple goals in five consecutive games - making him the first MLS player to achieve such a feat - and had 10 multigoal games, another league record. The previous mark was eight such games.
"We promised our fans that we would dream big to build an iconic club. A club that represents the passion, hard work and dedication of all those that came before us to create a Miami built on dreams," Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said. "Leo signing through 2028 is an ode to our amazing city."