Messi officially signs contract extension with Inter Miami, MLS sets new record

Messi and Inter Miami have just announced a new contract extension until December 2028, when the Argentine star will be 41 years old. At the same time, the MLS (American professional soccer) league set a new record for viewership.

Messi continues, fans everywhere are excited

ESPN FC believes that the moment the video of Inter Miami announcing Messi's contract extension for another 3 years in the Miami Freedom Park stadium under construction, which is expected to be completed in 2026, is a big moment for world football. Global fans will no longer be worried about the 38-year-old player suddenly retiring, now that there is a clear time to still enjoy him playing.

Messi carries out many youth football projects in the US, showing his long-term commitment here and to Inter Miami Club.

Photo: Reuters

Ronaldo, Messi's long-time rival, will also play until June 2027, at the age of 42, when his contract with Al Nassr Club in Saudi Arabia ends. This also means that both Messi and Ronaldo are looking forward to the 2026 World Cup, before enjoying the rest of their careers.

For Messi, he believes that renewing and continuing to play for Inter Miami at Miami Freedom Park after the 2026 World Cup is a dream as he continues to pursue the club's project. "I am really happy to stay here and continue this project, a project that is not only a dream but has become a beautiful reality - playing at this stadium, Miami Freedom Park. Since arriving in Miami, I have been very happy, so I am really happy to continue here," Messi expressed.

He also emphasized: "We are all very excited about the last moment of playing at Miami Freedom Park. We can't wait for it to be completed - to experience it from the inside, in our new home, and for the fans to enjoy it too. It will be very special to play at home, in such a magnificent stadium."

Mr. David Beckham is determined to turn Inter Miami into a 'super club' so that Messi can officially sign a contract extension.

Photo: Reuters

Inter Miami President David Beckham said: "When we started this journey, our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami. In 2023, we brought the best player to ever play football to our city.

Today, I am very happy that he is still as dedicated as ever and still wants to wear the pink shirt of Inter Miami and play for our team. As an owner, to have a player who loves football like him, who has given so much to football in this country and inspired the next generation of young talents like he did, I feel very lucky. Thank you Messi, good luck for the future."

Messi's presence at Inter Miami for another three years ensures that the club continues to grow and enter an extremely important stage of becoming a world-class team when it opens its official stadium, Miami Freedom Park, in 2026.

MLS hits viewership record thanks to Messi and Son Heung-min

Major League Soccer (MLS) has just announced that the 2025 season has seen a 29% increase in weekly live viewership compared to the same period last year, with the total audience reaching the second highest level in history.

MLS said the games averaged 3.7 million live viewers per week across streaming and traditional channels. For the first time, MLS released combined figures from multiple platforms, including Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, FOX Sports, TSN, RDS, Comcast, DirecTV, Amazon Prime Video , TikTok, EA FC Mobile, and international partners.

Along with Messi, Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller completely conquered American fans

Photo: Reuters

Additionally, MLS reported that 11.2 million fans attended regular season games in 2025, an average of 21,988 per game, and said 19 clubs attracted more than 20,000 fans per game. MLS's total attendance has increased 12% since 2022.

MLS also said that league and club accounts recorded a record 13.7 billion impressions in 2025, up 17% from a year earlier, while total followers across platforms increased 10% to more than 109 million, the fastest engagement growth this year among major leagues in North America.

In terms of jersey sales, Messi is still leading for the third consecutive season, while he will also have formidable competition from Son Heung-min (ranked 2nd) despite only arriving in MLS in August. Son Heung-min's presence also helped Los Angeles FC increase the number of spectators by 16% and within 72 hours of the transfer, he was the best-selling athlete in the entire Fanatics system.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/messi-chinh-thuc-ky-hop-dong-gia-han-voi-inter-miami-mls-lap-ky-luc-moi-185251024071155714.htm