Inter Miami star forward Lionel Messi (pictured in June) on Thursday signed a 2.5-year contract extension that will keep him with the Inter Miami soccer club through the 2028 season for an undisclosed amount. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
Forward Lionel Messi signed a 2.5-year contract extension with the Inter Miami Club de Futbol through the 2028 Major League Soccer season for an undisclosed amount.
Messi, 38, is the team’s captain, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and a former World Cup Champion who could end his career with Inter Miami after signing the contract extension at Miami Freedom Park on Thursday.
“It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality,” Messi said in a news release.
The under-construction Miami Freedom Park is slated to open in 2026.
“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy,” he added. “So I’m truly glad to keep going here.”
Messi made his comments in a news release announcing his contract extension that will keep him at the club that he joined in 2023.
“We promised our fans that we would dream big to build an iconic club,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said.
“Leo signing through 2028 is an ode to our amazing city,” Mas said.” We very much look forward to writing new chapters at our stadium at Miami Freedom Park.”
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham called Messi the “best player” ever to compete in soccer.
“Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that’s exactly what we have done,” Beckham said.
He said Messi is “still as committed as he’s ever been and still wants to win.”
“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 lucky,” Beckham added.
Since becoming a member of Inter Miami, Messi has helped the club to win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield titles.
Messi also was named the 2023 Leagues Cup best player and its top scorer, which he followed with the 2024 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Award.
Messi scored 29 goals during the 2025 season and earned the MLS Golden Boot Award for his scoring prowess.
Messi is a resident of Rosario, Argentina, and has helped his teams to win a combined total of 46 trophies after becoming a professional soccer player with FC Barcelona at age 17 in 2004.
