- By Himanshu Badola
- Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:28 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Lionel Messi signs new contract at Inter Miami: Lionel Messi has extended his stay at Inter Miami as the Argentine superstar officially signed a new contract extension, keeping him at the club through the 2028 MLS season, the team announced on Thursday.
The deal was announced a day before Miami’s playoff opener against Nashville. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi had previously said that Inter Miami would be his last club, but the 38-year-old has given no hint as to his possible retirement, saying that age would not be a factor. "Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that's exactly what we have done," Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said in a statement.
"He's still as committed as he's ever been, and he still wants to win."
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Notably, Messi officially joined Inter Miami midway through the 2023 MLS season, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal that was set to expire at the end of 2025. His new contract is all set to keep him in Major League Soccer (MLS) beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The veteran footballer has been in remarkable form lately, having bagged 29 goals this season, as Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference. They are set to play Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs beginning on Friday.
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He was named among five finalists for the league's MVP award 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 — 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.
This season, Messi has had multiple goals in five consecutive games, making him the first MLS player to achieve such a feat. In 10 games, he scored more than once, another league record. The previous mark was eight such games. Overall, Messi has 71 goals and 27 assists in 82 appearances for Miami and has won the League Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield with the side so far.
The 38-year-old spent many years with his boyhood club, Barcelona, before making a shocking move to Paris Saint-Germain. He led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar in 2022 and moved to Miami on a two-and-a-half-year contract from PSG after running down his contract the next summer.