NEW YORK: Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Inter Miami, keeping him at the club until 2028, the club announced on Thursday.
The move has excited fans and given a big boost to the team as well as the North American league. At 38, the Argentine star shows no signs of slowing down and remains hungry to win more trophies with the Florida team.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had previously stated that Inter Miami would be his last club, but the 38-year-old gave no indication of a possible exit, saying age would not be a factor.
“Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said in a statement.
“He’s still as dedicated as ever and still wants to win.”
The 2022 World Cup winner led the league in goals (29) this season as Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference. They will play Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup play-offs starting on Friday.
He was named among five finalists for the league’s MVP award on Thursday.
Messi sparked new interest in the league when he first signed in 2023 at a critical time for the sport in North America, with Canada, Mexico and the United States hosting next year’s World Cup.
Miami’s valuation has doubled since 2022 to $1.2 billion, according to Forbes, which named them the second most valuable team in MLS earlier this year.
“When Lionel Messi made MLS his League of Choice, it marked a turning point – not just for Inter Miami, but for our entire sport in North America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
“Since then, we’ve witnessed something truly historic: the greatest player of all time bringing global attention to our league.”
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