Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have reached an agreement to extend the Argentine superstar’s contract, keeping him in Major League Soccer (MLS) beyond the 2026 World Cup, a source confirmed late Wednesday.
The new deal means the 38-year-old will remain in competitive football through the United States, Canada, and Mexico-hosted World Cup, and could likely end his playing career in the MLS. An official announcement is expected within two weeks, according to the source cited by AFP.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 after a turbulent stint at Paris Saint-Germain, following his legendary career at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021. At Barça, he won 10 La Liga titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy four times, cementing his status as one of football’s greatest players.
In 2022, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and has since expressed a strong desire to defend the title at the next tournament.
His impact in MLS has been immediate. In 2024, he was named MLS Most Valuable Player, despite Inter Miami’s playoff elimination. A year later, in 2025, he became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history, further underlining his influence.
With the extension, Messi is set to end his illustrious career in the United States, where he has already transformed MLS viewership, ticket sales, and global visibility.
