Lionel Messi has signed an extension to stay with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season, the club announced on Thursday.
Messi, 38, just wrapped up his third season with the Herons and finished with an MLS-best 29 goals, earning his first Golden Boot. Inter Miami beat Nashville 5-2 in Saturday’s regular-season finale with the Argentinian superstar recording a hat trick to seal the league’s top goalscorer award.
Keeping Messi was a priority for club owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas. Freedom Park, a privately-funded 25,000 stadium, is set to open next season and having the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and soon-to-be two-time MLS MVP on the roster was imperative.
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“To enjoy him, watching him enjoy doing the things he is doing, he’s very, very competitive and he tries to translate that to the team,” said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “The best way to help him is trying to do the right things … he has to be comfortable on the pitch. He’s comfortable when things are working in the right way.
“With him, when we do things the right way, we’ll have many chances to have success.”
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Through two-and-a-half MLS seasons, Messi has 50 career MLS goals. Missing from his American soccer adventure is an MLS Cup title. Inter Miami failed to reach the playoffs during his first season in 2023, though they won Leagues Cup. After winning the Supporters’ Shield as the best regular-season team in 2024, they fell in the opening round to Atlanta United.
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Messi and Inter Miami begin their pursuit for a first MLS Cup title with a best-of-three series against Nashville beginning on Friday.
