Messi Signs New Deal With Inter Miami, Staying in MLS Until 2028

Lionel Messi has officially extended his contract with Inter Miami, committing to stay with the club until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, the team confirmed Thursday.

Inter Miami marked the announcement with a post on X showing Messi signing his new deal at a table set up inside the club’s soon-to-open Miami Freedom Park stadium, 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, laying in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park,” said Messi, 38.
“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.”

Club co-owner David Beckham praised Messi’s loyalty and drive:

“He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win,” Beckham said. “To have a player who’s done so much for the game and inspires the next generation as he does — we feel very lucky.”

Messi’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of 2025, and sources close to the club said an extension had long been considered a formality. His new deal keeps him active well beyond the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023 after a turbulent spell at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has transformed both the club and MLS, driving record attendance, viewership, and revenue across the league.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber hailed the extension as a watershed moment:

“When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of choice, it marked a turning point, not just for Inter Miami, but for our entire sport in North America.”

Messi’s impact has been staggering. He was named MLS Most Valuable Player in 2024, became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in league history in 2025, and this season won the Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 matches, sealing Inter Miami’s return to the playoffs.

At international level, Messi’s résumé remains unmatched:

• 10 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions Leagues with Barcelona
• 2 Copa Americas (2021, 2024)
• 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina
• 114 international goals to date

He could also play in a record sixth World Cup next year, potentially alongside longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, and is just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16.