Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas gives Lionel Messi contract update

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is currently under contract until the end of the 2025 MLS season and at 37-years-old, his storied career is drawing to a close.

It has long been suggested that Messi would return to Argentina to play out his final years, but that might not be the case if he is happy in the US.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Inter Miami in July 2023, has been a key part of their success this year.

With 20 goals and 16 assists in 15 regular season starts, he helped the club win the Supporters' Shield with a record breaking 74 points in the Eastern Conference.

But their ultimate goal of winning the MLS Cup remains unfulfilled.

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Inter Miami crashed out in the first round of the playoffs last month, losing to Atlanta United over three games.

Despite ending the season in disappointing style, it appears Messi is on course to sign a new deal with the club.

Speaking ahead of the draw for the 2025 Club World Cup - which will include Inter Miami - co-owner Jorge Mas offered an optimistic update on the Argentine's future.

"As I said before, I'm very confident that he'll be opening our new stadium in '26," Mas said.

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"I'll be sitting with Leo, you know, now at some point in the offseason.

"And I'm optimistic that as long as Leo's health holds up, that we'll be seeing him in pink."

Mas will certainly be hoping Messi sticks around beyond 2025, as he has already admitted the legendary footballer had a hand in appointing Inter Miami's new coach.

Javier Mascherano, a friend and former teammate of Messi, has replaced Gerardo Martino in the role following the recent playoff disappointment.

"I had a specific conversation with him. Leo gave me what I asked him, which was input," Mas told reporters of the decision to hire Mascherano.

"That was Leo's involvement and engagement with me, which (happens) frankly all the time."

While Messi is yet to put pen to paper on a new Inter Miami deal, talk of an extension would suggest that he is also hoping to playing in the World Cup in 2026.

The tournament will be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico, and if the Argentine star is still playing regular, competitive football, he may lead his country out on the biggest stage once more.

Messi has already featured in five World Cups, and after winning the prize in 2022, Argentina head into the 2026 tournament as defending champions.