Lionel Messi has officially extended his stay with Inter Miami, signing a new three-year deal that keeps him at the Major League Soccer club through 2028. The announcement comes just as the Herons prepare to open their 2025 MLS Cup playoff run against Nashville SC in the first round of their best-of-three series on Friday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The agreement, reportedly finalized a month ago, ensures Messi remains the face of the franchise as the team prepares to move into its new Miami Freedom Park stadium next season.
“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,” Messi said during the official announcement held at the construction site of the new venue. “Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here.” The Argentine superstar joined Inter Miami in 2023 and has since transformed the team into one of the league’s biggest attractions, on and off the field.
For now, Messi’s focus is on helping Inter Miami, seeded third in the Eastern Conference, secure its first-ever MLS Cup title. The club will be looking to improve on its disappointing 2024 campaign, when it was eliminated at the same stage by Atlanta United. With Messi’s renewed commitment and the excitement surrounding Miami Freedom Park’s grand opening, expectations for the Herons have never been higher.
