Lionel Messi is reportedly keeping his talents in South Beach.
The Argentine soccer star and Inter Miami are finalizing a new multiyear contract, according to an ESPN report Wednesday night. The deal will require final approval by Major League Soccer.
There was speculation the 38-year-old forward would leave MLS for Saudi Arabia, Spain, or another country to finish his legendary career when his contract expired at the end of this season in December.
Messi signed with Inter Miami in mid-July 2023 on a two-and-a-half year deal. He was paid $20 million this year, far more than any other player in the league, and more than the payroll of most of its teams. The deal came after a failed superteam experiment with Paris Saint-Germain that paid him $36 million annually. The maximum salary for an MLS player this season is roughly $734,000, but Messi can exceed it because of the league’s ‘Designated Player’ rule, which allows teams to have a player who exceeds the max.
Messi also has a unique agreement with MLS that gives him a cut of Apple subscription revenue from its streaming deal with the league, increasing the total value of his deal.
Since joining Inter Miami on the pitch, Messi has provided a significant boost in league revenue and viewership. He’s delivered on the field, too, leading Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup trophy weeks after he joined the team in 2023 and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, which goes to the club with the best regular season record.
Through Thursday, Inter Miami is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 49 points and is in position to secure a playoff berth. Messi has a team-high 28 goals and 14 assists in the 2025 season for Inter Miami counting all competitions including Concacaf Champions Cup, Club World Cup, and Leagues Cup in addition to the MLS regular season.
Inter Miami is set to open a new home stadium named Miami Freedom Park in time for the 2026 MLS season and Messi’s new contract should ensure strong ticket sales and interest for it.
“My wish, my dream, would be for the number 10 to inaugurate our new stadium in March,” Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas told ESPN in July. “This is a decision that rests on Messi. We wish for Messi to finish his career here. I said a few months ago that we should have news in the summer about that but hopefully it will be as soon as possible.”
