Has Lionel Messi expanded his contract in Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi went to watch some football (football in the context of the United States) on Friday, but did not say a word about his own future.

The Inter Miami-Star Die after at least the 2026 season and probably outside a contract extension that will hold him at his Major League Soccer (MLS) club showed up to see the global finals of the 1V1 football tournament that he helped and is sponsored.

His latest days after he and Inter Miami had concluded an extension, one that the parties have been working on for months and would assure him that he is at the club when it is planning to open his new stadium near Miami International Airport next year.

Messi looked at both the semi -final of the men and the women and then the final of his event. He greeted the winners on stage and signed signatures for fans, even a large group of selfie with the whole crowd at the end.

But there were no hints about the contract that came from his team on Friday and he did not speak to reporters.

Messi only spoke behind the scenes against his team about the tournament, where his interview was then sent to members of the media.

«It’s really nice to see and share this opportunity, and offers a platform for the game that is 1V1,» said Messi.

Asked for the extension, Inter Miami said head coach Javier Mascherano that he will remain hopeful.

Also read: Messi stars with two goals and an assist like Inter Miami beats DC United

«I hope it happens soon, because I think it’s great news, not only for the club, but also for MLS in general, right?» Mascherano said earlier Friday on the training basis of the team in Fort Lauderdale.

«I don’t think it’s only for the team,» said Mascherano. «It is clear for the team, for the club, for the history of this club, it is something unique. But I think it would be in the United States for football in general, it would be very, very important news. They can have the best player who played this sport here for a while longer.»

Messi supplied Argentina for the World Cup title in 2022 and is part of qualifying matches with the team – but has not formally said that he will play in the tournament next year when it comes to the US, Canada and Mexico.

The 38-year-old Messi has 20 goals-the second most in the competitions and 11 assists in MLS playing this season.

In July 2023 he joined Inter Miami with a contract of two and a half years, a contract that was worth 150 million at that time.

Messi was MLS MVP last season, even in a year in which he missed 15 of the 34 regular season matches of Inter Miami with injuries or national team obligations.

He helped the team to win his first two trophies, the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the supporters’ Shield for having the best record in MLS last season.

Messi and Inter Miami play DC United on Saturday. Miami opens the weekend sixth in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind the first place Philadelphia-but with three games in hand at the conference leaders and still in the race for one of the best playoff seeds and the shield of the supporters.

Published on September 23, 2025