Messi extends MLS stay, signs Inter Miami contract extension until 2028
Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has signed a new contract extension with Inter Miami, keeping the World Cup winner at the Major League Soccer (MLS) club until December 2028.
The 38-year-old, who has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, initially joined Inter Miami in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
His previous deal was due to expire at the end of this year, sparking speculation about a potential return to Barcelona or a move to Saudi Arabia.
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“Official: Leo Messi will continue to be an MLS player with Inter Miami,” MLS’s Spanish-language account announced on X.
Inter Miami also confirmed the extension with a video showing Messi signing his new deal at the club’s new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which is still under construction. The caption simply read: “He’s Home.”
The new contract will keep Messi in Miami through the end of the 2028 MLS season, sources close to the deal confirmed to AFP.
Messi has been instrumental to Inter Miami’s rise both on and off the pitch. Since joining, he has transformed the club into one of the most valuable in MLS — now worth an estimated $1.2 billion, according to Forbes.
On the field, Messi has dominated American soccer, winning the 2024 MLS MVP Award and the 2025 Golden Boot after scoring 29 goals in just 28 appearances.
He also helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, setting a new MLS record for most points in a single season.
Messi has been nominated once again for the 2025 MLS MVP Award, and if successful, would become the first player in league history to win the honour in consecutive years.
