October 24, (THEWILL) — Lionel Messi has committed his future to Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season, ending months of uncertainty over his next move.
The 38-year-old forward signed the extension on Thursday, with the deal keeping him at the club through his 41st birthday.
His decision comes despite the recent retirements of long-time colleagues Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, raising questions about his own longevity in Major League Soccer.
The Argentine cited the club’s forthcoming venue, Miami Freedom Park, which remains under construction, as a key factor in his choice to stay.
“We are all really excited about the moment when we can finally play at Miami Freedom Park. We cannot wait for it to be finished—to experience it from the inside, in our new home, and for the fans to enjoy it as well. It is going to be something very special to play at home in such a spectacular stadium,” Messi said.
The announcement took place at the stadium site, reinforcing the symbolic importance of the project to both player and club.
Managing owner Jorge Mas described the extension as fulfilling a commitment made to supporters and the city itself.
“We promised our fans that we would dream big to build an iconic club. A club that represents the passion, hard work, and dedication of all those who came before us to create a Miami built on dreams.
“Leo signing through 2028 is an ode to our amazing city,” Mas said.
Co-owner David Beckham added that retaining Messi aligns with their intention to attract top talent to the organisation.
Messi’s impact since arriving in 2023 has been substantial, leading Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup in his first summer and a record-breaking Supporters’ Shield the following year.
This season he topped the scoring charts with 29 goals and shared the lead in assists with 19, falling one contribution short of Carlos Vela’s all-time league mark.
The Herons netted 81 times in 2025, becoming only the third side in MLS history to exceed 80 goals in a campaign.
Should Messi claim the Landon Donovan MVP award again, he would become the first player to win it in back-to-back years and only the second to secure it twice after Predrag Radosavljević.
Inter Miami are now among the favourites for the MLS Cup, the one domestic honour that has eluded them after early exits in other competitions.
Following last year’s first-round elimination by Atlanta United despite a record-breaking regular campaign, the club will look to Messi to lead them to the title over the coming seasons.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
