Lionel Messi has reached an agreement with Inter Miami to extend his stay in Major League Soccer beyond next year’s World Cup, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Wednesday.
The deal will keep the 38-year-old forward in competitive football until and after the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. An official announcement is expected within two weeks.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 following a brief and difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain. He had previously spent 17 years at Barcelona, where he won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.
The Argentine captain guided his country to World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022 and has signaled his ambition to defend the title at the next tournament.
Despite Inter Miami’s playoff elimination in 2024, Messi was named MLS Most Valuable Player that season. The following year, he became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in league history.
If confirmed, the extension would likely see Messi end his playing career in MLS, solidifying his role as the league’s biggest star heading into the 2026 World Cup.
