Lionel Messi has reached an agreement with Inter Miami to extend his contract, keeping him in Major League Soccer (MLS) beyond the 2026 World Cup, according to a source close to the club.
The deal would ensure that the 38-year-old remains active at the highest level during and after the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The World Cup begins on 11 June 2026, with the final scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Messi’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season. An official announcement of the extension is expected within the next two weeks. The move raises the prospect of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner concluding his career in the United States.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 after two difficult seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, but his legacy was forged during his two decades at Barcelona (2004–2021). With the Catalan club, he won 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League trophies, becoming their all-time top scorer.
At international level, Messi has produced equally historic achievements. He led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and to back-to-back Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024. With 114 international goals, he remains his country’s all-time leading scorer.
If selected in 2026, Messi would feature in a sixth World Cup, breaking the current record. He is also just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s record tally of 16 goals in World Cup history.
Messi remains a decisive figure for both club and country. Argentina qualified comfortably for the 2026 finals, finishing nine points clear in CONMEBOL’s standings, with Messi topping the scoring charts on eight goals. His brace against Venezuela last month may prove to be his final competitive appearance on home soil.
In MLS, he has continued to break records. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2024, despite Inter Miami’s early playoff exit. In 2025, he became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history.
Under Messi’s influence, Inter Miami have grown into a competitive force. They currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with games in hand, owing to their participation in the Club World Cup, where they exited in the last 16 after a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Earlier this month, they also lost the Leagues Cup final 3-0 to Seattle Sounders.
The contract extension signals Messi’s intent to prolong his playing career in North America and to remain central to both club and international football beyond 2026. For Inter Miami and MLS, his continued presence represents both a sporting and commercial cornerstone as the league builds momentum towards hosting the world’s biggest tournament.
