Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has officially extended his contract with Inter Miami, committing to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club until the conclusion of the 2028 season. The club confirmed the news on Thursday, sharing a video of Messi signing the new agreement at the construction site of the club's future home, Freedom Park stadium, accompanied by the simple caption: "He's Home." This extension ensures that the 38-year-old superstar will continue to be a pivotal figure in American soccer for several more years.

Messi himself expressed his profound happiness regarding the extension, stating in a club statement, "It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality — playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park. Since I arrived in Miami, I've been very happy, so I'm truly glad to keep going here."

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham lauded Messi's decision as a testament to his unwavering "commitment to the city, to the club, to the game." Beckham emphasized Messi's enduring passion for the sport and his drive to win, acknowledging the immense fortune the club feels in having a player who has done so much to inspire the next generation of talent in the country.

While Messi's previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, an extension had long been anticipated, with club sources having indicated an agreement last month. This new deal strategically positions Messi to remain in competitive action well into and beyond the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Messi's arrival in Miami in 2023, following a challenging tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, has had a transformative impact on MLS. His presence has driven unprecedented record attendances and ticketing revenues across the league. MLS Commissioner Don Garber recognized this pivotal moment, stating, "When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of choice, it marked a turning point -- not just for Inter Miami, but for our entire sport in North America."

Before his move to MLS, Messi enjoyed a legendary career at Barcelona from 2004 to 2021, where he ascended through the youth ranks. During his time at the Spanish giants, he secured an astounding 10 La Liga titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy on four occasions.

On the international stage, Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022 and has openly expressed his ambition to defend the trophy next year. He boasts an impressive record of 114 international goals and has also led Argentina to two Copa América titles, in 2021 and 2024. The prospect of Messi participating in a record-setting sixth World Cup next year looms, a feat that could potentially be matched by his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. Furthermore, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose's record of 16 career World Cup goals.

Argentina has already secured its spot in next year's finals, finishing comfortably at the top of the South American qualifying table, with Messi as the leading scorer with eight goals. His contributions included a brace in what might have been his final competitive match on home soil against Venezuela two weeks prior.

In MLS, Messi has continued to achieve remarkable success. He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player in the 2024 season, despite Inter Miami's playoff elimination. In 2025, he rapidly became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history. This current season, Messi has been instrumental in guiding Miami back into the playoffs, with the team finishing in third place in the Eastern Conference. He concluded Inter Miami's regular season campaign with a superb hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC, bringing his tally to 29 goals from 28 matches and earning him the MLS Golden Boot award.