Lionel Messi’s current deal ends at the end of 2025.
Getty ImagesInter Miami has already begun talks to extend the stay of Lionel Messi at the club and prepare for the Argentine to lead the club into its new stadium at Freedom Park as their captain and star man.
Spanish daily newspaper MARCA claims that Messi is keen to prolong his deal as soon as possible, with eight months remaining on his existing contract. Talks are ongoing and the number 10 would like to remain in Miami, where his family is happy and he is surrounded by close friends and former team-mates like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
This backs up the claim of Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas in an interview with Forbes in April 2024, in which he described himself as “highly confident” that Messi would exercise an option in his contract to stay until the end of 2026.
What is not clear from the report is the length of the contract, which could be more than just a single year. Messi will turn 38 this summer, and this new contract would give him the chance to continue playing into the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and aid his national team Argentina to defend their crown as champions.
Messi has said on many occasions that he would like to end his career in Miami, seeming to abandon the dream he once stated to bring his career to a close at his boyhood Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. In any case, he continues to play at a high level, and competes with his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia at the age of 40.
Value of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract
Forbes places Lionel Messi as the second-best paid soccer player in the world in 2024 with a value of $135 million in his annual earnings for the previous calendar year. That left him behind Ronaldo, whose income was estimated at $285 million for 2024.
Of that, $60 million came directly from his on-field performances for Inter Miami, complemented by a further $75 million from sponsorships and partners. They include the likes of Adidas, Apple TV and Konami. He also owns his own production company, called 525 Rosario, and an Instagram account with over 500 million followers.
In total, Messi ranks as the third best-paid athlete in 2024, only behind Ronaldo and golfer Jon Rahm. That is in spite of his on-field earnings coming in lower than the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Lionel Messi’s impressive stats in MLS
10 games into the 2025 season for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has already scored eight goals and provided a further three assists. In MLS action, he has scored three goals, against Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto, after setting up two goals against New York City.
In total, he has scored 42 goals and provided 21 assists since joining Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain. He is set to make his 50th appearance for the club on Saturday April 19th against Columbus Crew.
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