The legend commits to finishing his career in pink

Lionel Messi will complete his extraordinary soccer career wearing Inter Miami’s distinctive hot pink jersey after signing a new contract with the Major League Soccer club. The deal, announced Thursday, reportedly spans three years and will keep the 38-year-old World Cup champion in South Florida through 2028, when he will be 41 years old.

The extension represents a significant commitment from both Messi and the club, ensuring one of soccer’s greatest players will spend the twilight of his career building the franchise into a powerhouse. Messi expressed his satisfaction with life in Miami since arriving, noting his happiness with the project and his eagerness to continue contributing to the team’s growth and success.

From World Cup glory to MLS dominance

Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, arriving just six months after capturing soccer’s most prestigious prize. Argentina’s victory in the 2022 World Cup marked the nation’s first world title since Diego Maradona led the team to glory in 1986, the year before Messi was born. That triumph cemented Messi’s status as arguably the greatest player in soccer history, fulfilling the one achievement that had eluded him throughout his remarkable career.

His original three-year contract was set to expire at the end of the current season, creating uncertainty about whether he would continue with the club. The new agreement removes that doubt and provides stability as Miami pursues its championship ambitions. The team kicks off its first round MLS Cup playoff series Friday against Nashville SC, a familiar opponent for Messi and his teammates.

Building a championship legacy in Miami

Messi made an immediate impact after joining Inter Miami, helping the club win the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023 by defeating Nashville in the final. The Herons also claimed the 2024 Supporters Shield, awarded to MLS’s regular season champion, while setting a new league record for points accumulated during the campaign. However, bottom seed Atlanta United delivered a stunning upset by eliminating Miami in the first round of last year’s playoffs, making hoisting the MLS Cup trophy the team’s top priority for 2025.

Since arriving midway through the 2023 season, Messi has accumulated an impressive 71 goals and 37 assists across 82 games in all competitions for Miami. His dominance has made him the odds-on favorite to win the MLS MVP award for the second consecutive year. He already claimed the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer, netting 29 goals in just 28 regular season appearances during 2025.

The roster will look different moving forward

While Messi’s commitment provides continuity, Inter Miami will undergo significant roster changes next season. Spanish legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who were Messi’s former teammates at FC Barcelona, both announced their intentions to retire when the current campaign concludes. Their departures will remove familiar faces and experienced voices from the locker room.

Despite these exits, Messi will still be surrounded by players he knows well. Luis Suarez, also 38, has indicated his willingness to sign his own contract extension, expressing his desire to retire alongside his longtime friend and former Barcelona teammate. The club added Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window. The 31-year-old midfielder won the World Cup alongside Messi three years ago and remains a regular starter for Argentina’s national team.

A new stadium awaits

Inter Miami will begin playing in a spectacular new venue starting next season when they move from their temporary home in Fort Lauderdale into Miami Freedom Park, a billion-dollar stadium located in the city proper. Messi was filmed signing his new contract inside the active construction site, symbolizing his investment in the club’s future.

The Argentine star expressed enthusiasm about eventually playing in the new facility, anticipating what it will mean for both the team and supporters to experience matches in such an impressive venue. The stadium represents another piece of Inter Miami’s ambitious plans to establish itself as a premier destination in world soccer, with Messi serving as the centerpiece of that vision through at least 2028.