Lionel Messi is set to sign a new contract with Inter Miami, promising to accompany the American team in an important milestone – the inauguration of a new stadium in 2026.
Lionel Messi is close to signing a new contract with Inter Miami, according to The Athletic. If the deal is finalized, the Argentine superstar will continue to play for the team co-owned by David Beckham until at least the end of 2026.
Messi, 37, will join Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, marking a major turning point for American soccer by attracting one of the greatest players of all time. His current contract runs until the end of 2025, but the club’s leadership is keen to keep their captain for another year, coinciding with the opening of the new $1 billion Miami Freedom Park stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2026.
Since arriving in Miami, Messi has not been alone. He has reunited with his Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez. His former Argentina and Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano is also the team’s head coach.
Messi’s form in the US is undeniable. In 48 games for Inter Miami, he has scored 42 goals and provided 21 assists – impressive numbers for a player who has turned 37. Notably, he also helped the team win their first title in history – the 2023 Leagues Cup, just a few months after arriving in MLS.
Inter Miami currently plays at the 19,100-seat Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, but the new 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park is being built as a new symbol of American soccer, and Messi could be the man to lead the team into that era.
Messi’s contract extension is not only professional, but also has commercial, symbolic and spiritual value for American soccer. After nearly two years playing in MLS, Messi has contributed significantly to the strong growth of this tournament in terms of viewership, jersey revenue and global media appeal.
By keeping Messi until 2026 – a year of special significance for the United States as they, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the World Cup – Inter Miami shows that their ambition is not only to stop at MLS, but also to aim for the status of an international club.
