Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Intermiami are reviewing the final details of a contract extension that will keep Argentine football from at least 2026 onwards.
Discussions on what would be constituted as a multi-year contract have been underway for several months, people said.
Neither Messi nor the team have given details, so they spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Intermiami did not have any comments. ESPN and USA Today both reported on Wednesday that the deal was nearing a conclusion.
InterMiami is urging Messi to re-sign for a while for countless reasons, but for one thing, he is still desperately hoping to appear on the roster when a new stadium near Miami International Airport is set to open next year. The team has sold ticket packages and deposited in new park seats for over a year, but it is reasonable to assume that such seating needs are low if Messi is no longer in the team.
The 38-year-old Messi has 20 goals (second in the league) and 11 assists in Major League soccer play this season.
He joined Intermiami in July 2023 on a two-and-a-half year contract. Messi was MLS MVP last season, but 15 of Intermiami’s 34 regular-season games missed injuries and commitments to the Argentine national team.
He helped the team win the first two trophies of 2023, the League Cup and Supporters Shield, with the team having the highest record in MLS last season. The club believes that Messi has become a huge global popularity due to his roster and will benefit even more if he stays with Inter Miami in 2026 when Messi and Argentina are aiming to defend the World Cup title.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
