Lionel Messi has officially committed his future to Inter Miami CF by signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club through the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
This deal arrives as a significant moment not just for the player, but also for Inter Miami and MLS as a whole. Messi’s previous contract was set to run until the end of the 2025 season. With the new extension, Messi will be under contract until December 2028.
Why the extension matters
There are several key dimensions to this development:
Continuity on the field
From a sporting standpoint, Messi remains at a high level. He recorded 29 goals in 28 MLS games in the 2025 regular season and has been central to Inter Miami’s recent success. The extension sends a strong signal that both player and club believe there is more to achieve together.
Off-field and strategic significance
Messi’s influence extends far beyond his goals and assists. His decision to stay supports Inter Miami’s broader project, including their forthcoming new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which is scheduled to open in 2026. He cited the stadium as a motivating factor. SI+1 The club sees his presence as foundational to their ambition to grow both on and off the pitch.
Impact on the league
For MLS, Messi staying on is a major endorsement of the league’s trajectory. His arrival had already raised global attention to the competition and his extension reinforces that momentum.
What this means going forward
With Messi staying through at least the end of 2028, several implications emerge:
- For Messi: At his age (38 at the time of signing), committing three more years signals he intends to continue playing at the highest level, rather than winding down immediately.
- For Inter Miami: The club can plan long-term around their star player — from squad building to marketing, ticketing, stadium launch and global brand strategy.
- For MLS: Having one of the game’s all-time greats locked in underlines the league’s growing credentials and aspirational standing in world football.
Challenges and questions ahead
Of course, an extension of this kind also raises questions:
- How will Messi’s performance hold up in the coming years given his age?
- Can Inter Miami translate the presence of such a star into major silverware, especially the MLS Cup which has so far eluded them?
- Will the club’s long-term infrastructure (stadium opening, commercial growth) match the ambitious plans tied to his contract extension?
In spite of the questions, the decision is clear: Messi is staying in Miami. As he put it, “It makes me really happy to stay here and continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality.”
This extension marks a new chapter in the relationship between Messi, Inter Miami, and MLS — one that promises ambition, legacy and global reach.
