The new deal ensures Messi will stay at the Major League Soccer (MLS) club when they make the switch to their new stadium in Miami Freedom Park in 2026. The current contract Messi has with Miami expires at the end of 2025.
The Argentine player arrived in Florida as a free agent in July 2023, having left Paris Saint-Germain.
News that Messi and Miami have an agreement follows managing club owner Jorge Mas providing an encouraging interview to FDP Radio Miami that World Cup champion Messi will remain in Sunshine State for a longer time.
“Now, I believe that within 60-90 days we will need to make all this decision,” Mas said.
“My expectation always has been – and everything that we’re doing – is to see Messi playing in our new stadium in 2026. We hope so.”
In the time that he has spent at MIami since relocating, Messi has netted 42 goals and registered 21 assists in 48 appearances overall.
The 37-year-old was in top shape this season, finding the net eight times in nine matches. He also assisted Miami in winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024, earning them a place in next year’s Club World Cup.
With Messi set to remain, this is a massive boost for the MLS in general, particularly considering the United States will be co-hosting the World Cup next year. It’s a competition which Messi will look to participate in as Argentina try to hold on to their World Cup title.
The Ballon d’Or winner will be 39 years old in the group stages of the competition but he is still an essential part of the national team.
Messi was absent for Argentina’s most recent two World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to adductor pain, but he had played all four of the current world champions’ matches throughout the October and November international breaks.
If he shows up at the tournament in June next year, that will be six World Cups for Messi.
No player has attended a sixth World Cup: Messi is tied for the record of five tournament attendances with Mexican players Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, and Rafael Marquez; Germany footballer Lothar Matthaus; and, naturally, Portuguese megastar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Among these players, only Messi and Ronaldo are still very much involved in international football, so the two could collectively create the record next year.
However, before Messi fantasizes about another record, his first concern would be his Miami team against Chicago Fire this Sunday.
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