Why did Lionel Messi extend his contract with Inter Miami?

The 38-year-old star recently extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, accompanied by a huge salary. While some supporters are happy, others are less enthusiastic. They question what Messi’s purpose is in staying at the club given his age and the fact he hasn’t brought the most anticipated prize, the MLS title.

Lionel Messi has just signed a new contract with Inter Miami to continue playing until the end of 2028. The Argentine legend will turn 41 when this new contract expires. Although specific income details have not been disclosed, according to the team’s salary budget submitted to MLS, Inter Miami pays Messi a guaranteed $12 million annually, plus bonuses exceeding $20.4 million. This excludes off-field terms, such as his shares in MLS-related businesses and partnerships with companies like Apple, a league partner. Overall, Messi enjoys an exceptionally generous package. Few players at 38, including Cristiano Ronaldo previously, have received such favorable treatment from their clubs.

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has led the club to win the Leagues Cup and achieved the highest points total in the 2024 MLS regular season, setting a record. In the 2025 season, Messi maintained his excellent form and won the Golden Boot with 29 goals. Having already earned the 2024 MVP award, Messi is expected to claim the MVP title again this year, becoming the first player to win two consecutive MVP awards.

Messi has currently scored 62 goals and provided 29 assists for Inter Miami, leading the club’s history in both categories. With this new contract, Messi not only extends his career but also aims with his teammates for the MLS Cup, the highest honor in the league and a trophy Inter Miami has never won. This sheds light on many things: despite receiving special privileges, including influence over player acquisitions as Argentina’s captain, Messi still has many objectives yet to be fulfilled with Inter Miami.

Inter Miami, partially owned by David Beckham and coached by Javier Mascherano, will face Nashville in the first match of the playoff series. While national championships are considered the most prestigious titles worldwide, the MLS Cup is the premier prize in the United States. Every MLS club dreams of winning the MLS Cup at least once. This has been Inter Miami’s goal since Messi joined from PSG in 2023, but they have not yet succeeded. In fact, the only knockout tournament they have won since Messi’s arrival is the 2023 Leagues Cup, a new competition for MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX teams.

Since then, they have competed in seven cup tournaments without winning any additional titles, aside from the 2024 Supporters' Shield for finishing first in the overall standings. Clearly, despite Inter Miami’s heavy investment and decisive moves, their trophy haul remains modest. We cannot deny that the arrival of former Barcelona stars, including Lionel Messi, has had a significant impact on Inter Miami both on and off the field. The club has attracted higher caliber players, increased revenues, boosted profits, and notably improved their chances of success in title races.

However, ultimately, the team has yet to meet expectations of reaching the MLS summit and winning the MLS Cup. Several factors could explain this, such as Inter Miami lacking an optimal squad, having aging stars, or suffering bad luck at crucial moments. It’s difficult to pinpoint the main reason or excuse. People simply look at the results and draw conclusions. On the pitch, Messi is close to breaking the MLS single-season record for combined goals and assists held by former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela. The Mexican player contributed to 49 goals for Los Angeles FC in 2019, while Messi has tallied 45 (29 goals and 16 assists) in 28 appearances (26 starts). He enters the playoffs against Nashville after being named MLS Player of the Month three times this season, having won the Golden Boot and poised to earn another individual award.

But all those individual honors mean little if the club fails to win titles. Fans cannot keep investing in a team that never secures the main trophies. You might recall Liverpool’s season when they won multiple cups but failed to claim the Premier League or Champions League titles. Despite ten trophies, that season was still considered a failure. Therefore, Inter Miami’s decision to retain Messi reflects their hunger, high hopes, and strong expectations for him. Hopefully, by the time Messi’s contract ends, he will have helped the club achieve its goals and earn the right to be immortalized as a true club legend.

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