It’s official now, Lionel Messi is staying in Miami. In what many are calling a historic moment for Major League Soccer and world football, Messi has signed a new contract extension with Inter Miami CF that keeps him at the club till December 31, 2028. The club confirmed it on October 23, 2025, putting an end to weeks of rumours about his next move and locking his long-term future in South Florida.
Softfootball initially reported that the Argentine was in negotiation to extend his contract until after the 2026 World Cup, and now transfer expert Fabrizio Romano made the announcement official in a post made on his official X account.
He announced:
OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi signs new deal at Inter Miami valid until December 2028, confirmed. Verbal agreement reported last week now confirmed as MLS approved all the formal steps. Messi stays at Inter Miami for 3 more years.
The new three-year deal comes with a player opt-out clause at the end of 2026 and also gives the club an option for 2027. It’s a big show of trust from both sides. When Messi joined Inter Miami back in July 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year deal, the team wasn’t exactly flying high. But since then, things changed fast he’s turned the club from a struggling side to one of the biggest powerhouses in MLS, both on and off the pitch.
Inter Miami also posted an announcement video via their official X account, in what has sent fans to the moon and back.
Watch the video below:
Even at 38, Messi is still doing unreal things. He leads the league in both goals and assists this 2025 season and looks set to win his second straight MVP and Golden Boot award, especially after that epic hat trick against Nashville SC. Everywhere he goes, the numbers follow; you will see ticket sales shooting through the roof, fans packing stadiums, TV ratings booming, and sponsors lining up.
The financial part of the deal wasn’t revealed, though reports say his old contract was worth around $150 million and included equity in the club once he retires. Now, this new deal keeps him in place for the grand opening of Miami Freedom Park, the club’s 25,000-seat stadium expected to open in 2026.
This extension makes perfect sense. Messi’s 2025 MLS season has been nothing short of incredible. He ended the regular season with 29 goals and 19 assists in just 28 games. That’s 48 goal contributions, the second-most in league history, only behind Carlos Vela’s 49 in 2019.
Messi also grabbed the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, becoming Inter Miami’s first-ever winner since the club started in 2018. His 1.03 goals-per-game rate is the second best since 2005, and he even set a record with 28 non-penalty goals. On top of that, he became the first player to score multiple goals in nine different games in a single season, insane numbers for anyone, let alone a 38-year-old.
But it’s not just about stats. Messi has been the heartbeat of Miami’s attack, leading in shots and key passes and creating constant danger. His hat-trick and assist in the 5–2 win over Nashville SC on October 18 sealed his Golden Boot and reminded everyone, again, that time hasn’t slowed him down one bit.
