Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Inter Miami, keeping one of soccer’s biggest names in the United States for the foreseeable future.
The Athletic reported in April that Messi, 38, and Miami were close to an agreement on a contract extension, with his previous deal set to expire at the end of 2025.
The new deal is for three years through the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. That will see him lead Miami into their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, next year and past his 40th birthday.
Miami announced the news with a video of Messi signing paperwork in the construction site of their new arena, accompanied with the caption “he’s home”. The announcement comes ahead of Miami’s MLS play-off first-round game against Nashville on Friday.
“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. Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here,” Messi said upon the announcement.
“We’re all really excited about the moment when we can finally play at Miami Freedom Park. We can’t wait for it to be finished — to experience it from the inside, in our new home, and for the fans to enjoy it as well. It’s going to be something very special to play at home in such a spectacular stadium.”
HE’S HOME. pic.twitter.com/AUMJJYR5pF
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 23, 2025
Messi joined Miami in July 2023 in a landmark transfer for the club and MLS, following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
Jorge Mas, Miami managing owner, had handled negotiations and said before the deal was announced that it was “solely (Messi’s) decision” and described the prospect of the forward extending his stay at the club as “a beautiful future for the club and for Lionel”.
“We promised our fans that we would dream big to build an iconic club,” Mas said on Thursday. “A club that represents the passion, hard work and dedication of all those that came before us to create a Miami built on dreams.
“Leo signing through 2028 is an ode to our amazing city. We very much look forward to writing new chapters at our stadium at Miami Freedom Park. Together we will continue building and dreaming.”
Messi has scored 71 goals and provided 37 assists in 82 appearances in all competitions for Miami.
The club won the Leagues Cup during his debut season and finished top of the overall standings in 2024 to win the Supporters Shield, qualifying for the Club World Cup, but were beaten in round one of the play-offs by Atlanta. Messi was voted MLS’s MVP for 2024 after scoring 21 goals in 22 league appearances.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has registered 37 goals and 19 assists across 43 appearances in all competitions this season, with Miami finishing third in the Eastern Conference standings to qualify for the play-offs.
Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez is out of contract at the end of 2025, while Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have both announced they will be retiring at the end of the season.
Co-owner David Beckham added: “Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that’s exactly what we have done. We brought the best player to have ever played the game to our city. That shows our commitment to Miami, but it also shows Leo’s commitment to the city, to the club, and to the game.
“He’s still as committed as he’s ever been and he still wants to win. 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 to lead Miami into new era’
Analysis by Tom Bogert
Long since his future was in doubt but it’s now official: Lionel Messi extends his time with Inter Miami.
Messi will lead the club into their brand new stadium and into a slightly new era on the field, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retiring this winter.
For Messi, it’ll be more of the same. The legend is an overwhelming favorite to win MLS MVP for the second consecutive season — becoming the first player in league history to do that — and he shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
With any worries that his contract hadn’t yet been announced now quelled, Messi and Miami have full focus on the club’s playoff run and chase to lift MLS Cup.
‘Messi the outlier’
Analysis by Conor O’Neill
As ever, when it comes to Lionel Messi, the numbers do little more than echo his obvious brilliance. Watch any Inter Miami game and it’s immediately clear how far ahead he is of the rest of the MLS, even in this late stage of his career.
Since arriving in 2023, he’s scored 50 goals in 53 league games.
The only real concern going forward is his availability. Last season, he played less than half of the possible league minutes, the first time he’s done so since his teenage years at Barcelona in 2005-06. Yet savouring his genius for longer, even if on a more limited basis, is well worth the investment for David Beckham and co.
The significance of 2028
Analysis by Paul Tenorio
Inter Miami’s announcement says Messi has signed a contract through the end of the 2028 season. That’s significant because the league is expected to flip its calendar to a fall-spring format that mirrors many European leagues.
That change is expected to occur no later than 2028 — with the league aiming for a 2027 change. With a fall-spring calendar, the end of the 2028 season would be in May 2029, a few weeks before Messi’s 42nd birthday.
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