Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has committed his future to Inter Miami, signing a contract extension that will keep him in Major League Soccer until the end of the 2028 season, the club announced on Thursday.
The 38-year-old World Cup winner formalised the deal in dramatic fashion, putting pen to paper at a table positioned in the centre of the club’s new Freedom Park stadium, which is currently under construction. The announcement was made through Inter Miami’s social media platform with a simple yet powerful message: “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,” he added.
The extension represents a significant coup for Major League Soccer and ensures the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will remain in competitive action well beyond the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Messi’s current contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham praised the Argentine’s commitment to the sport and the franchise.
“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 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 joined Inter Miami in 2023 following an unsuccessful stint at Paris Saint-Germain. The bulk of his illustrious career was spent at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021 after progressing through the Spanish giants’ youth system. During his time at the Nou Camp, he secured 10 La Liga titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy four times.
The forward’s impact on Major League Soccer has been immediate and remarkable. He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season, despite Inter Miami’s playoff elimination. In 2025, he set a new league record by becoming the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history.
This season, Messi has delivered exceptional performances, leading Miami back into the playoffs after they finished third in the Eastern Conference. He concluded the regular season campaign with a hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC, taking his tally to 29 goals from 28 matches and securing the MLS Golden Boot award.
At international level, Messi has amassed 114 goals for Argentina and led his country to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. He has also won the Copa America twice with the national team, in 2021 and 2024.
The contract extension positions Messi to potentially compete at a sixth World Cup in 2026, which would establish a new all-time record. He could, however, be matched by long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Messi is currently just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 career World Cup goals.
Argentina secured their place at next year’s finals with ease, finishing nine points clear at the top of the South American qualifying table. Messi topped the scoring charts with eight goals, including a brace against Venezuela in what may have been his final competitive appearance on home soil two weeks ago.
