Football legend Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Inter Miami, extending his stay in Major League Soccer until the end of the 2028 season, the club announced on Thursday, October 23.
In a video shared on Inter Miami’s official X (Twitter) account, Messi was seen signing the deal inside the under-construction Miami Freedom Park stadium, accompanied by the caption: “He’s Home.”
“It makes me really happy to stay here and continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality, playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park,” said the 38-year-old in a club statement. “Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.”
Club co-owner David Beckham hailed the extension as a testament to Messi’s passion and loyalty:
“He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win. To have a player who loves the game as much as he does and inspires the next generation of young talent — we feel very lucky.”
Messi’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, and renewal talks had been ongoing for months. The new deal ensures he will play beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The Argentine superstar joined Inter Miami in 2023 after a short stint with Paris Saint-Germain, following an illustrious two-decade career at Barcelona, where he won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies.
With Argentina, Messi has scored 114 international goals and led his nation to victory in the 2022 World Cup, as well as Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. He now stands just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals and could make history by playing in a sixth World Cup — potentially alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
In Major League Soccer, Messi has been a transformative figure. He was named MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2024 and became the fastest player in league history to reach 40 goals.
This season, he guided Inter Miami to a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference, ending the campaign with a hat-trick in a 5–2 win over Nashville SC to claim the MLS Golden Boot — scoring 29 goals in 28 matches.
