Lionel Messi has committed his future to Inter Miami, signing a contract extension that will keep the Argentine icon in Major League Soccer through the 2028 season.
The club unveiled the news Thursday with a video showing the 38-year-old signing his contract at a table inside the under-construction Freedom Park stadium. “He’s Home,” read the simple caption on Inter Miami’s social media.
“It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality,” 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.”
The extension was widely expected after club sources confirmed last month that a deal was imminent. Messi’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, creating questions about his future just as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Co-owner David Beckham praised Messi’s continued commitment. “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, we feel very lucky.”
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The new deal ensures Messi will remain in competitive action well beyond next year’s World Cup, which kicks off June 11 with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has expressed his desire to defend the title he won with Argentina in Qatar in 2022.
Should he feature in the tournament, it would mark Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance—potentially a record he might share with rival Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s also just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time mark of 16 career World Cup goals.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has transformed the franchise. He won the 2024 MLS MVP award and this season captured the Golden Boot with 29 goals from 28 matches, capping the regular campaign with a hat-trick against Nashville last Saturday.