Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have reached an agreement to extend his contract until the 2028 season

Last season's league MVP, the Argentine star, is the clear favorite to secure the award again this year.

Lionel Messi has at last reached an agreement on a new contract with Inter Miami, a negotiation that took several months to finalize and guarantees that the sport's most prominent figure will remain with the Major League Soccer team as it prepares to relocate to a new stadium next year.

The agreement was revealed on Thursday, just a day prior to Inter Miami's playoff opener against Nashville. Messi's team, ranked as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host the first game of the best-of-three series on Friday night.

The team revealed the decision through a social media post, featuring Messi signing the contract within the new stadium, which is still under construction. The post stated, “HE’S HOME.”

"I'm genuinely thrilled to stay here and carry on with this project, which has evolved from a dream into a beautiful reality — playing at this stadium in Miami Freedom Park," Messi remarked in comments released by the club. "Since I arrived in Miami, I've been very happy, so I'm truly delighted to continue here."

In a unique and in-depth interview, Messi spoke with Tom Llamas of NBC News. This uncommon discussion will air on NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas on Monday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.

Inter Miami announced it was a three-year contract extending through 2028. The idea of Messi playing for an additional two or three seasons would undoubtedly enhance ticket sales at the stadium the team is constructing near Miami International Airport. For over a year, the team has been offering ticket packages and accepting seat deposits for the new venue, all based on the expectation that Messi would continue with the franchise.

His choice to remain in Miami is significant for both the club and MLS. Last season, Messi was the league’s MVP and is the clear favorite to secure the award again this year. If he succeeds, he would become only the second player in league history to win the MVP twice and the first to do so in consecutive years. Preki received the MVP award in 1997 and 2003.

"It's a pleasure to watch him relish what he's doing; he's extremely competitive and aims to instill that in the team," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Thursday. "The best way to support him is by ensuring everything is done correctly... he needs to feel at ease on the field. He's at ease when everything is functioning properly."

"When we do things correctly with him, we'll have numerous opportunities for success."

Messi claimed the MLS Golden Boot this season by netting 29 goals, surpassing LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge by five goals. Additionally, he provided 19 assists, bringing his total goal contributions to 48, just one short of the MLS record of 49 set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

This season, Messi scored multiple goals in five consecutive matches, becoming the first MLS player to accomplish this. Additionally, he set a league record with 10 multigoal games, surpassing the previous record of eight.

"We assured our fans that we would aspire to create a legendary club, one that embodies the passion, hard work, and dedication of everyone who laid the groundwork for a Miami founded on dreams," stated Jorge Mas, the managing owner of Inter Miami. "Leo's signing through 2028 is a tribute to our incredible city."

At 38, this contract is probably Messi's final one as a professional player. Having made his debut with Barcelona at 17 in 2004, he has spent more than half his life playing professionally.

The duration of Messi's playing career remains uncertain. As an eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient and widely regarded as the sport's most prominent figure, he guided Argentina to a World Cup victory in 2022. Argentina will seek to retain the title when the tournament takes place next June and July in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

By 2026, his Inter Miami team will undoubtedly have changed. Messi committed to the club in July 2023 with a 2 1/2-year contract, which led to a reunion with his former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez.

Busquets and Alba are both set to retire after this season; Alba decided to step down only months after signing a three-year contract. Suarez's future remains uncertain, and it's thought that retirement might also be a possibility for him.

However, Messi will continue playing, at least until 2026. Last month, he and the team were nearing the end of this prolonged contract negotiation, and it was unclear why it took several additional weeks for Messi to finally sign the agreement.

His initial contract with Inter Miami was valued at approximately $150 million at that time. It quickly proved beneficial, as Inter Miami secured its first trophy — the 2023 Leagues Cup — soon after his arrival.

Last season, he claimed the MLS MVP award for the first time, despite missing 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season games due to injuries or obligations with Argentina’s national team. Despite these absences, Inter Miami secured its first Supporters’ Shield by achieving the best regular-season record in MLS, but was then unexpectedly defeated in the first round of the playoffs.

Since Messi joined the roster, the club's global popularity has surged significantly. His pink No. 10 jersey has become the top-selling item in MLS since he entered the league. Additionally, Messi has expanded his extensive business ventures off the field since arriving in the U.S., including appearing in a Super Bowl advertisement last year.

“Our goal was to attract top players to Inter Miami and to this city, and we have achieved that,” stated Inter Miami co-owner and soccer legend David Beckham. “We have brought the greatest player in the history of the game to our city. This demonstrates our dedication to Miami, and it also reflects Leo’s dedication to the city, the club, and the sport. He remains as committed as ever and still has the desire to win.”