According to reports, Lionel Messi and MLS side Inter Miami are nearing a multi-year extension, with minor details left to sort out.
News of the extension comes amidst rumours that the Argentinian was unhappy with his stay in MLS and had been considering a move to another league. Several outlets had reported that the relationship between the player and the North American League hit a breaking point following his 1 game suspension for the missing the MLS All-Star Game without league approval.
However, it appears as though both sides have come together to hammer out a new deal, with a formal announcement expected in the near future.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has been steadfast in his stance that he wanted to see the global icon retire as a member of the club. And for good reason.
Not only is Messi the clubs leading scorer with 28 goals, and 14 assists across 36 games in all competitions, but his merchandise sales, and international draw remain unmatched across MLS. That being said, sources indicate that it is those “off field” figures that remain the final hurdles to clear in inking a new contract.
The 38 year old inked a 3 year pact with the club back in 2023 which included not only a hefty annual salary, but also included a massive signing bonus which was never publicly disclosed, plus partial equity in the club upon the conclusion of his deal.
He also had additional compensation from Apple, Adidas, and Fanatics included as well, which when all added together makes him one of the most well compensated athletes on the planet. Forbes estimates that Messi will earn $60M in on-field earnings in 2025, with an additional $75M in off-field earnings this season.
However, those figures don’t take into account his future stakes in Inter Miami, which currently sports an estimated net worth of $1.2B according to the magazine.
His new deal with the team is reported to be for 2 years, and will keep him with the Herons through his age 40 season. That will also coincide with the opening of the club’s new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which is slated to open next year.
The Herons will are next in action against DC United at 7:30 pm ET Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Photo: Hayden Schiff. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.