The Messi chapter at Inter Miami will not end on December 31 this year. The story will continue for some more time, at least another year, possibly even more. According to journalist David Ornstein from sports website The Athletic, Inter Miami has finalized everything for the renewal of Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain’s contract. The verbal agreement is done, and now only the paperwork remains. This means that next year, Messi will be seen wearing Miami’s jersey when the club’s new stadium is inaugurated.
This is not just good news for Miami; Messi’s contract renewal will have a significant impact on Major League Soccer (MLS) and overall sports culture in the United States. Miami has become a club that many teams look up to. One of the club’s owners and management head, Jorge Mas, claimed, “In fact, many clubs are now envious of us.” It is only natural for rivals to feel envious of a team with one of the greatest footballers of all time. However, beyond on-field success, the way Miami is expanding its business around Messi is equally enviable.
An MLS sports director told The Athletic, “Since Messi’s arrival, global interest in our league has grown noticeably. Some are even calling it the ‘Messi League Soccer.’ But we need to be careful that this naming doesn’t have any negative connotations.” Jorge Mas, however, is not concerned about such a possibility. He believes Messi’s arrival in U.S. soccer is a blessing. It is not just Miami and MLS that benefit; the entire U.S. sports industry is gaining, and that’s why he is thrilled about Messi’s contract renewal.
In an interview with renowned Spanish commentator Andrés Cantor on FDP Radio, Mas shared that while it took four years of planning and effort to bring Messi to MLS, keeping him at Miami was much easier. The decision for Miami was straightforward, and Messi agreed with enthusiasm. Mas said, “We hope to announce the final decision within the next 60 to 90 days. Our dream now is to see Messi playing in the new stadium, which will probably open in March next year. I believe we’ll see our captain Messi playing in the first match.”
Messi’s contract renewal news will undoubtedly bring relief to MLS commissioner Don Garber and other club owners. Not only on the field, but Messi has also added a new dimension to MLS commercially. Even in football-crazy countries like Argentina, where MLS was once not taken seriously, Inter Miami has now become a favorite club. For the U.S., Messi’s contract renewal could open up massive commercial opportunities, especially with the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It’s likely that Messi will still be leading Argentina’s national team, and his marketing potential will expand even further.
Mas also mentioned, “When the history of American football is written, Messi’s name will be right there alongside Pelé and Beckham. The most popular athlete in this country right now is an Argentine footballer—that’s Messi’s true impact. In just seven months, he has found his place in Super Bowl commercials. Inter Miami can now hope to play in any 80,000-seat stadium with a packed crowd.” With such influence, it’s clear that Miami won’t let him go anytime soon!
