Lionel Messi had quite the week.

After securing the MLS Golden Boot last Saturday – finishing with 29 goals in 28 regular-season games – the Inter Miami forward signed a contract extension on Thursday with the club through 2028, guaranteeing his place in South Florida for three additional years.

The Argentine wasn’t done: in Game 1 in a best-of-three first round of the MLS Cup playoffs against Nashville SC, Messi netted a brace to help his team win 3-1 on Friday night.

Less than 36 hours prior to kickoff, the club announced the new deal in a statement where Messi signed the contract on the construction site of Miami Freedom Park, the team’s new stadium that’s expected to be unveiled next season.

“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here,” Messi said in the press release.

“We can’t wait for (Miami Freedom Park) to be finished – to experience it from the inside, in our new home, and for the fans to enjoy it as well. It’s going to be something very special to play at home in such a spectacular stadium.”

The contract extension could potentially increase Messi’s chance of playing in the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, a competition where the former champion hasn’t fully committed to.

The forward is showing no signs of slowing down since he arrived in South Florida in the summer of 2023. Messi is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 71 goals in all competitions. In addition to the scoring, the Argentine has tallied 37 assists in 82 games.

Messi and co will be looking to avenge last season’s shock first-round exit to Atlanta United. The team faces Nashville in Game 2 on Saturday night in Tennessee, with a victory guaranteeing a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano got creative in the second half of his team’s 2-1 Leagues Cup win over Mexican side Tigres on Wednesday.

The former Barcelona defender was shown a red card during halftime, forcing him to watch the rest of the quarterfinal from the stands of Chase Stadium.

But despite being ejected from the game, Mascherano could be seen sitting a few rows above Miami’s team bench, occasionally shouting at his assistants. In the 57th minute, cameras showed the Argentine seemingly phoning assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez Pagano and giving instructions.

A Leagues Cup spokesperson told The Athletic that Mascherano’s actions were legal under the rules.

“The Inter Miami head coach was located in a space designated according to tournament regulations,” the spokesperson said. “Cellphone communications are not prohibited per Leagues Cup regulations in this instance.”

Luis Suárez’s 23rd-minute penalty opened the scoring for Miami, giving them a 1-0 advantage going into the break. However, Tigres leveled the match in the 67th minute through striker Ángel Correa, who snuck behind the defense and slotted his effort past Oscar Ustari.

The hosts were awarded another penalty late in the game. Suárez completed his brace by converting the spot kick, punching the South Florida side into the semifinals of the tournament.

Miami will be looking to win its second Leagues Cup in the last three editions, having won for the first time in 2023. Mascherano’s side will face state rivals Orlando City next Wednesday, with the winners advancing to the final on August 31.

Lionel Messi drew criticism when he grabbed the back of New York City FC’s Assistant Coach Mehdi Ballouchy’s neck after a draw in Inter Miami’s season opener on Feb. 22. The Inter Miami star was given a yellow card for arguing with the referee after the final whistle sealed the 2-2 draw. USA Today’s Messi reporter, Safi Deen, said, “Messi should be fined and forced to issue an apology for his actions.” Apple TV’s Taylor Twellman posted on X: “Not a great look. Grabbing an assistant coach by the neck. Going after the ref.” (Credit: Jose Armando via Storyful)

Lionel Messi didn’t score in Inter Miami’s season opener Wednesday, but the international superstar appeared healthy and earned an assist in the team’s 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. Uruguayan star Luis Suarez also earned an assist in his first MLS appearance.

Between Messi and new acquisition Suarez, along with their former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, have formed a super team that is overwhelmingly favored to win the MLS title this season. Less than a year ago, the team was dead last in the league.

Though Messi’s arrival in 2023 sparked a late flurry for the team, Inter Miami failed to make up enough ground to make the playoffs last year. Messi suffered several injuries which have kept him more or less sidelined since November, but Inter Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino was happy with his progress in the season opener.

“He has a characteristic that no other player has,” Martino said, according to ESPN. “He grabs the ball very far from the rival goal and the feeling he gives is that he will generate something [that] will end in a goal situation.”

Messi’s assist allowed striker Robert Taylor to earn the team’s first goal of the season in the 39th minute, and Suarez set up midfielder Diego Gomez late in the second half to seal the 2-0 victory. Taylor, a 29-year-old from Finland, has been a bit player for several years, but it was 20-year-old Gomez’s first goal since signing with Inter Miami last summer.

Unlike last season, when fans were packing into stadiums to watch Messi compete for minor trophies, the hype could now be even greater now that Inter Miami has added Suarez with a full season ahead. Ticket prices have quadrupled compared to the start of the 2023 season and could go higher throughout the season as Messi returns to full health and the team enters serious championship contention.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are currently on a worldwide preseason tour before the 2024 MLS season. In the team’s latest match in Hong Kong, stars Messi and Luis Suarez both sat out, causing strong backlash from fans and the Hong Kong government. Organizers promised that specifically, Messi would play, but he was ruled out with lingering inflammation in his abductor before the game.

“We understand the disappointment of the fans that filled the stadium today about the absence of Leo and Luis Suarez,” Inter Miami head coach Geraldo Martino said. “This decision was made together with the medical staff. We ran a lot of risk of aggravating their injuries and that’s why they couldn’t be in the game. We understand the disappointment that people have.”

Almost 40,000 fans showed up to watch Inter Miami and Messi against their Hong Kong XI all-star team on February 4, paying anywhere from $120 to $625 for entry. Throughout the game, chants of “refund” and boos could be heard throughout the stadium as fans expressed their displeasure. The Hong Kong government has also expressed its frustration by calling for answers and reducing the budget of Tatler Hong Kong, the company that organized the game.

“The match in Hong Kong became the only one in Messi’s six pre-season friendly matches on this trip where he was absent,” the Chinese state-controlled Global Times said in a statement. “The situation … has magnified these doubts and suspicions on the integrity of Inter Miami and Messi himself.”

Inter Miami won the game against Hong Kong XI 4-1 despite being without their two-star players, Messi and Suarez. The team then went to Japan to play another preseason game three days later, which Messi was able to suit up for, resulting in a 4-3 loss in penalties. Inter Miami will end its preseason tour by playing Messi’s youth team, Newell’s Old Boys, on February 15.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I always want to play … especially in these games where we travel so far and people are excited to see our games. Hopefully, we can come back and play a game in Hong Kong,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said before the game in Japan.

After missing the better part of Inter Miami’s last three matches, including the U.S. Open Final Wednesday, Lionel Messi is said to be returning from injury soon. Inter Miami coach Tata Martino confirmed that the international star will try to come back in a last-gasp effort to get the club into the MLS Playoffs.

“It was not prudent for him to play, not even to consider him for a few minutes because we would have run risks,” Martino noted after the U.S. Open Final, a losing 2-1 effort against the Houston Dynamo. “We will go match by match defining the situation to see at what point the medical department tells us that he is fit to play without taking risks.”

The circumstances surrounding Messi’s injury are somewhat vague, with some citing a scar tissue problem with his leg and others reporting fatigue. He removed himself from a league game against Toronto F.C. on September 20 and has not appeared with the squad since. They have won and drawn their two league matches since and suffered their first loss in the U.S. Open, which does not count toward MLS standings.

With five games remaining in the 2023 season, Inter Miami still has the same slim postseason chance it has had since Messi arrived over the summer. The gap has closed somewhat, however. Not only has the team won or drawn six of its last seven league matches, but several teams ahead of them have also stalled. Inter Miami is now just five points out of ninth place, currently held by New York City F.C. Each victory in the MLS earns three points while draws earn one.

Before Messi arrived in Miami, the team was at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference and has only begun to climb toward a postseason berth because of the efforts of the Argentinian and his longtime FC Barcelona teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The sooner he can return from his most recent setback, the better their chances become.

Inter Miami’s nine-game winning streak, propelled by the arrival of Lionel Messi, came to an end Wednesday when the team played to a 0-0 draw against Nashville SC. The team controlled 70% possession against Nashville but failed to capitalize on several key opportunities.

Despite not scoring for just the second game in his MLS career, Messi still played very well, and received admiration from fans for a pass in the 27th minute which nearly resulted in a goal. Inter Miami has played to a draw in regulation several times, but because those games occurred in tournament formats, the team had the opportunity to win on penalties.

The draw makes Inter Miami’s path to the MLS Playoffs even tougher than it was before, as the team will likely have to win every game remaining on its schedule to even have a remote chance of reaching the postseason. Inter Miami was firmly in last place when Messi arrived, and despite winning the Leagues Cup, the team needs to move up from 14th place to 9th in order to advance.

For the second game, Messi has not spoken to media, typically against MLS rules. When the star did not speak to reporters after the team’s game against the New York Red Bulls, the league claimed that it was the result of a miscommunication.

“There was a misunderstanding regarding Lionel Messi’s media access,” MLS said. “He has not violated any guidelines for his media availability in Major League Soccer.”

Regardless of whether or not Messi leads Inter Miami to an MLS Cup this season, he has made an immediate impact on the American soccer market. Tickets to MLS games featuring him can cost 10 times as much as the average ticket price around the rest of the league. He has stirred up the city of Miami as well, as his home games have become must-see events for those who can afford to attend. Away games act as more of a traveling tour than a competitive sporting event, as teams around the country have already sold out arenas in anticipation of his upcoming matches.

International soccer star Lionel Messi sent shockwaves through the sport Wednesday when he agreed to a deal with MLS team Inter Miami. Specific details of his contract have not been finalized, but the deal has already transformed the landscape of soccer in the United States.

“I have made the decision that I am going to Miami. I still don’t have it agreed upon 100 percent and a few things are needed, but, well, we decided to continue my path there,” Messi said.

Potential terms in Messi’s contract are lucrative and could include a part-ownership of Inter Miami and a share of Apple TV revenue from new streaming subscribers. Spanish publication Diario AS reports that he could earn up to $54 million per season in salary alone.

Messi claimed that he decided to come to play in the United States after failing to make deals with Paris Saint Germain and FC Barcelona.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way and to enjoy the day-to-day more. Obviously, with the same responsibility and desire to play well and do things well as always. But in a calmer way.”

Despite Messi’s claim that he could not return to FC Barcelona, the team later said in a statement that he had been offered a deal that was still on the table when he decided to enter negotiations with Inter Miami.

“Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed Club President Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami, despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana,” Barca said in a statement.

Before Messi decided to join Inter Miami, tickets to the game could be found for less than $30. The cheapest tickets available now are nearly $500. The Messi effect is immediate stateside.

Reports emerged Thursday that international soccer superstar Lionel Messi will not return to Paris Saint Germain next season, with multiple suitors around the globe already being named to potentially sign the Argentinian. With all the leverage in the world, Messi can sign with any team that can feasibly afford him, but several destinations stand out in Europe and abroad.

Of all the potential landing spots for Messi, reports have most strongly suggested that FC Barcelona are first in line to sign him. A return home to the team that Messi played nearly two decades for would be a sensible decision as he nears the end of his career at the highest level of the sport.

The club would have to demonstrate to La Liga that it can afford its old superstar, something it has reportedly failed to do at this time. Confirmation of his PSG departure could reinvigorate the effort, however.

Another team long-rumored to be pursuing Messi is Inter Miami, an MLS club that reportedly offered him a deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in the history of the league last year. More recent reports suggest that the team may even offer him an equity stake in the club to play. If he agrees to play in the United States, he would follow in the footsteps of European stars like David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His impact on American soccer attendance would be even greater, however.

Just as it’s possible that Inter Miami might not be the only MLS team interested in Messi, a number of teams in Saudi Arabia will also likely pursue the PSG defector. Al-Hilal reportedly has offered him a deal worth $400 million. Others are certain to make bids as well in an effort to make the high-yield acquisition for their clubs.

Other possibilities exist for Messi, and some have discussed the possibility of a debut in the Premier League or other leagues in Europe. These clubs are less likely to sign him, however, as they lack the history he shares with Barcelona and the funds to match offers made in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

At this point, only two things are certain. While Messi could go to any number of clubs next at any number of locales, he seems set to leave PSG at the end of the season. When that occurs, he is poised to become the highest-paid athlete in the world — again.

Lionel Messi has agreed to a contract extension with the Paris Saint-Germain Football Club and will stay with the team for at least one more season. Before winning the World Cup with Argentina, the international star was rumored to be signing with Inter Miami but never agreed to a deal with the MLS squad.

Messi’s agreement with PSG comes after a dramatic World Cup victory for Argentina over France, in which he led the team in goals and assists. At age 35, the forward demonstrated that he is still capable of playing at the highest level of soccer, a possible motivation for his decision to stay in a European club.

In November, reported rumors heavily implied that Messi would join Inter Miami in MLS at the conclusion of PSG’s 2022-23 season. Owned by David Beckham, who ended his own career in America, the team was reportedly prepared to make the Argentinian the highest-paid player in MLS history.

In 2021, Messi signed with PSG after spending his entire professional career with FC Barcelona. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner initially struggled in France but has since regained some semblance of his previous form. As a member of the Argentinian team, he led his country to wins in the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. He will now join fellow stars Kylian Mbappe, the French prodigy who fell just short of defeating him in the World Cup, and Neymar in Ligue 1 until at least 2024.

The two sides have not yet come to a firm agreement, something that Messi will have plenty of time to negotiate after World Cup celebrations conclude. In the meantime, PSG will resume league play on Dec. 28 against Strasbourg Alsace. In February, the team will compete in the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich in the hopes of avenging a loss to eventual champions Real Madrid in this year’s knockout phase.