Inter Miami have confirmed that Lionel Messi will remain with the club until the end of the 2028 MLS season after agreeing a contract extension
The Argentine superstar, 38, shared the announcement on Instagram, with a video showing him signing the deal at a table in the middle of the club’s new Freedom Park stadium, still under construction, captioned simply: “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 said in a club statement. “Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.”
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham praised Messi’s decision, describing it as a reflection of his dedication to the city, the club, and the sport. “He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win,” Beckham said. “As owners, to have a player that loves the game as much as he does, and who has done so much to inspire the next generation in this country, we feel very lucky.”
Messi’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, and the extension was widely expected after club sources indicated an agreement had been reached. His new deal ensures he will remain in competitive action well beyond the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 following a challenging period at Paris Saint-Germain, but he spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021. At Barcelona, he won 10 La Liga titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy four times.
Internationally, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and has expressed his ambition to defend the title in 2026. He has scored 114 international goals and has also won the Copa America twice, in 2021 and 2024.
Messi could feature in a sixth World Cup next year, potentially setting a record, and is just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record. Argentina qualified comfortably for the 2026 finals, finishing nine points clear atop the South American qualifying table, with Messi finishing as top scorer with eight goals, including a brace against Venezuela.
In MLS, Messi has continued to shine. He was named the 2024 MLS Most Valuable Player despite Inter Miami being eliminated in the playoffs, became the fastest player to reach 40 MLS goals in 2025, and this season led Miami back into the playoffs. He capped off the regular season with a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Nashville SC, finishing with 29 goals in 28 matches to claim the MLS Golden Boot.
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