Chalien Dantes/Contributor

Lionel Messi has officially locked in his future with Inter Miami, signing a multi-year extension that will keep him in South Florida through the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. 

This deal is likely the final chapter of his playing career. While the exact financial details weren’t shared, Messi has been the highest-paid player in MLS since joining Miami in mid-2023. His initial contract guaranteed him over US$20 million annually, more than the entire payroll of about two-thirds of MLS teams. On top of that, he’ll receive a stake in the club once he retires. This extension means Messi will still be playing professionally at the age of 41.

The contract was months in the making and hits a major goal for Inter Miami’s owner, Jorge Mas, who wants Messi to headline the opening of their new stadium, slated for 2026. Since joining the league as a fresh expansion team in 2020, Inter Miami has played at a modest 21,500-seat stadium in Fort Lauderdale. But Messi’s arrival has changed everything. The club has become a magnet for some of his former Barcelona and Argentina teammates, including Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Rodrigo De Paul. Even Javier Mascherano, once Messi’s teammate, now leads the team as head coach.

Messi’s impact on the pitch has been electric. In just 82 games, he’s racked up 71 goals and 37 assists, helping Miami capture the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. As the 2025 MLS playoffs kick off, Miami faces Nashville SC in a best-of-three series, aiming to capture the elusive MLS Cup after falling short in other tournaments this year. Despite missing nearly half the 2024 season due to an ankle injury, Messi still snagged the MLS MVP award and looks set to claim it again in 2025, something no player has done since Preki in 2003.

Off the club stage, Messi is gearing up to join Argentina for the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the US, Mexico, and Canada, having played a key role in helping the reigning champions secure their spot.