Inter Miami and Liono Messi reached an agreement to renew the Argentine star contract, which would guarantee that he continues to play until the 2026 World Cup dispute, a source near the club told AFP.
The renewal could be for several years and would mean that the current world champion and former Barça star would close his career at MLS.
Preparations have already started for the official announcement, which will take place within two weeks, the source informed AFP on Wednesday night (17).
Messi, 38, gave the first evidence of the possible extent of his contract in an interview after September’s match for the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela, when Argentina won 3-0.
“Nine months go by very fast and at the same time, it is a long time,” Messi said when referring to his future and a possible participation in the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We finished the season at the end of the year and then I need to do a preseason, we will see how I will feel, I hope to make a good preseason,” added Messi, world champion with Argentina at Qatar in 2022.
With eight remaining games, Inter Miami occupies sixth in the East Conference with 49 points and is in the dispute for Supporters Shield, recognition of the best team of the regular season.
Messi has consolidated his candidacy to repeat MLS’s most valuable player prize with 20 goals in 21 matches, becoming only the fifth player to score 20 goals in consecutive seasons.
The 2025 season for Inter Miami has so far registers a first participation in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, a good campaign at the FIFA World Cup – the end of the final – and the Final of Leagues Cup.
New stadium
For the 2026 season, Inter Miami will open the doors of “Miami Freedom Park”, its new stadium with capacity for 25,000 spectators.
Messi spent several months involved in negotiating the extension of his contract, which ends in December. The press reported that the rich Saudi league tried to hire the Argentine.
The Argentine team captain arrived in US football in mid-2023 after ending his career at Barcelona and his brief spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
In the so -called Latin capital of the United States, the Argentine enjoys a much quieter lifestyle and away from the elite of soccer clubs.
Although Miami’s largest sports celebrity, Messi is often seen in restaurants, supporting his children in the base categories of Inter or participating in shows, such as the Coldplay group in July.
A year ago, the winner of eight golden balls had anticipated his intention to retire in Miami, where he was surrounded from the beginning by Barcelona companions, such as Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
In July his compatriot Rodrigo de Paul, one of the nearest companions in the Argentine team, joined the team.
