Lionel Messi Signs New Inter Miami Contract

Lionel Messi has inked a contract extension with Inter Miami, securing his presence in Major League Soccer through the conclusion of the 2028 season, as announced by the club on Thursday, October 23.

In a video shared on Inter Miami’s X account, Messi was shown signing the new agreement at a table within the under-construction Miami Freedom Park stadium, with the caption: “He’s Home.”

“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, 38, stated in a club release. “Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.”

Club co-owner David Beckham called Messi’s extension a reflection of his “commitment to the city, to the club, to the game.” He added, “He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win. As owners to have a player that loves the game as much as he does, and who has done as much for the game in this country and to inspire the next generation of young talent as he has, we feel very lucky.”

Messi’s prior contract was set to conclude at the end of the 2025 MLS season, with a renewal widely anticipated after club sources confirmed last month that a deal was finalized.

The new agreement ensures Messi will keep playing well past the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament begins on June 11 and wraps up with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 after a challenging stint at Paris Saint-Germain. Prior to that, he spent nearly two decades at Barcelona, where he secured 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies after rising through the club’s youth academy.

With Argentina, Messi has netted 114 international goals and claimed the World Cup in 2022, alongside Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner could set a record by competing in a sixth World Cup, possibly alongside long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. He is also just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 career World Cup goals.

Messi spearheaded Argentina to the top of the South American qualifiers for next year’s finals, finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals.

In Major League Soccer, Messi’s influence has been profound. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for 2024 despite Inter Miami’s playoff elimination, and in 2025, he became the fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 goals.

This season, he led Miami to a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference, concluding the regular season with a hat-trick in a 5–2 victory over Nashville SC to secure the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 matches.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli