Lionel Messi will remain at Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 MLS season after signing a contract extension, the club confirmed on Thursday.
Messi shared the announcement on social media, posting a video of himself signing the deal at the club’s under-construction Freedom Park stadium, captioned: “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, said. “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 hailed Messi’s commitment, saying: “He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win. 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 joined Inter Miami in 2023 after a difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but he spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. Internationally, he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and has 114 international goals, along with two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
His new contract ensures he will continue playing through the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Messi could compete in a sixth World Cup, potentially setting a record, and is just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring mark. Argentina qualified comfortably for the 2026 finals, with Messi finishing as South America’s top scorer with eight goals.
In MLS, Messi has continued to dominate. He was named 2024 MLS Most Valuable Player, became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in 2025, and led Inter Miami back into the playoffs this season. He finished the regular season with a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Nashville SC, scoring 29 goals in 28 matches to secure the MLS Golden Boot.
