Inter Miami is hopeful that Lionel Messi will sign a contract extension to continue playing in Major League Soccer beyond 2025, as talks are underway involving the club, MLS officials, and Messi’s representatives. His current deal runs until December, but all sides are reportedly confident a new agreement will be reached. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Messi is open to staying in the U.S., despite speculation about a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
Club executives view Messi’s presence as vital—not just for Inter Miami, but also for boosting the league’s global profile ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Since joining in 2023, Messi has become Inter Miami’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals. His latest was a signature free-kick in the Club World Cup against FC Porto.
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He played all four of Miami’s matches in the tournament, though the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, losing 4-0 in front of 65,000 fans in Atlanta.
If a new deal is signed, Messi is expected to finish his club career in MLS, with growing speculation that he may retire from international football after the 2026 World Cup. His continued presence would be a major boost to MLS, which has experienced a surge in international attention and commercial growth since his arrival.
