Lionel Messi could leave Inter Miami at the end of the year as his contract talks with the club have not progressed.
The Lionel Messi contract talks with Inter Miami have reportedly been put on hold, sparking fears that he could leave the Herons at the end of the year.
The 37-year-old joined the Miami-based outfit in the summer of 2025, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. His initial contract is set to expire at the end of the year, according to Transfermarkt, and until today, it has been expected that he will put pen to paper.
The situation
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas confirmed last month that they were in negotiations with the Argentinian over a contract renewal. It was expected that he would extend until December 2026, or even longer; however, when he was asked about an update on his future following the defeat to Orlando yesterday, he said, “No, I don’t know anything.”
Messi’s comments came after the announcement of Jordi Alba’s two-year contract renewal, during which Mascherano was asked about the former PSG star’s future. The former Argentina U-21 coach had the following to say: “To sign Jordi for the next two years is important to show stability, and hopefully, in a few weeks, we can have some news about Leo. I think it will be very, very important for the club, the fans, and for MLS.”
Talks stagnated
However, ESPN Argentina journalist Diego Monroig reported today that the talks have stagnated and that it is no longer certain that the former Barcelona man would don the pink of Inter Miami next year.
Meanwhile, Inter Miami is struggling on the pitch, and this could be a contributing factor to the hurdles in negotiations. They have been knocked out of the Champions Cup and are currently in 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings.