Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Inter Miami, keeping him at the club until 2028, the team announced Thursday.
The extension delighted fans and boosted both the Florida side and Major League Soccer’s global profile.
At 38, Messi shows no signs of slowing down and remains determined to win more trophies with Inter Miami.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had previously hinted that Inter Miami might be his final club.
However, Messi gave no indication of retiring soon, saying age would not affect his ambitions.
“Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” said co-owner David Beckham.
“He’s as committed as ever and still wants to win,” Beckham added.
This season, Messi led MLS in goals with 29 as Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference.
The club will face Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup play-offs beginning Friday.
On Thursday, Messi was also named among five finalists for the league’s MVP award.
His arrival in 2023 reignited interest in North American football ahead of the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
According to Forbes, Inter Miami’s valuation has doubled since 2022 to $1.2 billion, ranking second among MLS teams.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber called Messi’s impact historic for the league and the sport in North America.
“When Messi made MLS his League of Choice, it marked a turning point for our entire sport,” Garber said.
“We’ve witnessed something historic — the greatest player of all time bringing global attention to MLS.”
