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Lionel Messi, the 38-year-old Argentine superstar and captain of Inter Miami CF, signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
His original contract, signed in July 2023, was set to expire at the end of 2025. The extension was officially announced on October 23, 2025, and is likely considered the final contract of Messi’s professional career, as he will turn 41 at the end of the contract.
Messi expressed his enthusiasm for continuing the project, highlighting his happiness in Miami and his excitement about the new Miami Freedom Park stadium, scheduled to open in 2026.
Club co-owner David Beckham described it as a testament to Messi’s commitment to the team, the city, and American soccer, and emphasized how fortunate the club feels to retain him.
Lionel Messi, the 38-year-old Argentine superstar and captain of Inter Miami CF, has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
His original contract, signed in July 2023, was set to expire at the end of 2025. The extension was officially announced on October 23, 2025, and is likely considered the final contract of Messi’s professional career, as he will turn 41 at the end of the contract.
Messi expressed his enthusiasm for continuing the project, highlighting his happiness in Miami and his excitement about the new Miami Freedom Park stadium, scheduled to open in 2026.
Club co-owner David Beckham described it as a testament to Messi’s commitment to the team, the city, and American soccer, and emphasized how fortunate the club feels to retain him.
Impact on Inter Miami
The extension cements Messi’s central role in Inter Miami’s transformation from a struggling franchise to a competitive powerhouse. Since joining in 2023, he has led the team to its first trophies: the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.
In 2025, Messi guided the club to third place in the Eastern Conference, securing a playoff spot, and also won the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 games, becoming the fastest player to reach 40 goals in league history.
In total, he holds club records with 71 goals and 44 assists in 82 games across all competitions. Both financially and commercially, the extension represents a major boost.
Messi’s presence has driven record attendance and revenue, and the club is poised to capitalize on the stadium’s opening in 2026 as part of a 53-hectare entertainment district.
Owner and general manager Jorge Mas called it an “ode to our incredible city,” emphasizing continued growth and the desire to achieve great things.
However, challenges remain: despite individual accolades such as two consecutive MVP awards (2024 and presumably 2025), the team has yet to win the MLS Cup and may require a roster overhaul to compete more consistently.
Messi’s decision to extend his stay is described as a “huge victory” for MLS and a positive development for soccer globally. His arrival in 2023 has had a transformative effect, boosting league-wide attendance, ticket sales revenue, and international visibility.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber called it a “turning point” for the sport in North America. The extension positions Messi as a key figure leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico), potentially further raising the league’s profile. It also underscores MLS’s ability to attract and retain top talent, inspiring the next generation of players in the U.S.
Public reactions on X highlight the fans’ enthusiasm, with posts celebrating “3 more years of Lionel Messi in soccer” and noting that the extension quells retirement rumors. Some debate questions whether such stardom can sustainably propel MLS beyond temporary attention.
or Messi, the deal adds to his estimated earnings of $1.6 billion throughout his career from salaries and endorsements, providing him with financial security and allowing him to continue playing at a high level in a less demanding environment than European leagues.
It aligns with his post-Paris Saint-Germain phase, focused on enjoyment and family life in Miami, where he has expressed feeling “very happy.”
The extension could mean his retirement from Inter Miami.
For the club, the consequences include greater expectations for success, including the possibility of competing for the MLS Cup and participating in international competitions such as the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (where Messi helped reach the round of 16).
This could influence team-building strategies, as Inter Miami is likely to invest in nurturing the talent surrounding Messi. However, his age presents risks of injury or declining performance, which could impact long-term planning.
This renewal represents a mutual commitment: Messi to Inter Miami’s ambitious project, and the club to building the club around the best player of his generation.
This puts an end to speculation about an early retirement or a return to Europe/Argentina and confirms his intention to finish his career in MLS.
More general conclusions point to sustained growth for American soccer, and Messi’s influence is likely to leave a lasting legacy, elevating the league’s status and inspiring future stars, even as the team faces pressure to translate his stardom into more trophies
