Inter Miami eye long-term Messi deal despite Saudi bid

Inter Miami arrived in Major League Soccer as an ambitious start-up, but their capture of Lionel Messi in July 2023 transformed them into a global juggernaut. Now, less than a year into that revolutionary partnership, club executives are moving aggressively to ensure the Argentine genius remains in pink and black well beyond the final whistle of his current agreement in December 2025.

Inter Miami’s confidence grows as talks progress

Inter Miami officials have already opened what sources describe as “advanced, positive” conversations with Messi’s camp. Co-owner David Beckham and sporting director Chris Henderson want a framework locked in before the 2024 MLS season reaches its summer crescendo. The proposed extension would run at least until the end of the 2027 campaign, aligning neatly with both the club’s stadium move to Miami Freedom Park and the buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in North America. Executives believe that synergy could create the most marketable footprint American soccer has ever seen.

Record-breaking impact on and off the pitch

In 14 regular-season appearances after his arrival, Messi contributed 11 goals and eight assists, but his influence went far beyond the numbers. Inter Miami sold out every home fixture within hours, saw MLS Season Pass subscriptions on Apple TV triple, and shifted more shirts in six months than any other club in the league’s 28-year history. Sponsors have flocked to the Herons; ticket resale prices ballooned by 524%, and the club’s social-media following exploded past 20 million. “Messi isn’t just our striker,” Beckham recently quipped, “he is our Silicon Valley.”

Al-Ahli’s lavish offer

While Inter Miami sharpen their pencils, Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Ahli have not sat idle. According to Gulf insiders, the Jeddah giants tabled a two-year deal worth in excess of $350 million, eclipsing even Cristiano Ronaldo’s staggering package at Al-Nassr. Saudi chiefs view Messi as the missing jewel in their grand plan to position the domestic league among the sport’s top five competitions by 2030. They argue that his partnership with former Barcelona teammate Riyad Mahrez could ignite unprecedented commercial growth in the Middle East.

The Messi family factor

Despite Al-Ahli’s riches, sources close to the player insist lifestyle considerations remain paramount. The Messi family has settled comfortably in Fort Lauderdale, with children Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro enrolled in local schools and wife Antonela involved in community projects. Friends note that the slower media glare compared to Barcelona or Paris allows the forward a semblance of normalcy. “He rides his bike along the beach without a security convoy,” one neighbor told Miami Herald. “That freedom is priceless.”

Financial mechanics of a new MLS mega-deal

To outmaneuver Saudi advances, Inter Miami are constructing a multi-layered package. The base salary, currently around $20 million annually, would rise modestly, but the real innovation lies in equity and revenue-share clauses. Messi already collects a slice of Apple TV’s Season Pass gains; the new contract could increase that percentage and add performance-triggered stock options in Miami Freedom Park. Adidas is also prepared to expand its lifetime boot partnership, mirroring the structure that rewarded Michael Jordan through Nike’s Jordan Brand.

Inter Miami’s long-term vision surrounds Messi

Securing Messi is only the first pillar of a broader sporting project. Inter Miami have identified at least two additional marquee signings for 2025—Luis Suárez is on a short-term deal but could stay, while talks with Luka Modrić’s entourage remain cordial. The club has also invested heavily in its academy, hoping Messi’s presence accelerates youth development by attracting elite teenage talent from South America and Florida alike. Beckham envisions a conveyor belt akin to La Masia, one that can eventually offset Designated Player costs.

What it means for Major League Soccer

MLS commissioner Don Garber publicly supports Inter Miami’s retention push. Losing the league’s biggest draw to Saudi Arabia only 24 months after his arrival would be a reputational body blow. Conversely, tying Messi down beyond 2026 would strengthen MLS’s negotiating hand in its next broadcast-rights cycle and turbo-charge expansion fees, already projected at $500 million. As Garber stated at Soccerex, “Lionel has shifted the paradigm; keeping him ensures the paradigm sticks.”

Potential hurdles

Despite optimism, obstacles remain. MLS roster rules limit on-field spending, meaning any substantial wage raise must thread the needle of Designated Player regulations. Furthermore, the intense travel schedule—six-hour flights are routine—places extra strain on a 36-year-old body. The club’s medical staff have designed a bespoke conditioning program, but Miami may still need to manage his minutes strategically, especially on artificial surfaces in venues such as Charlotte and Vancouver.

The ticking clock

Both camps prefer to reach verbal agreement by early autumn, giving legal teams ample runway before FIFA’s January 1 pre-contract window opens. If no extension is in place, Al-Ahli are expected to intensify lobbying with a delegation to Miami. Sources suggest they would even consider allowing Messi to remain stateside during MLS seasons and play in Saudi only during breaks, a creative yet logistically complicated proposition.

Global merchandising bonanza

Inter Miami’s commercial department projects that a four-year extension could generate over $1 billion in cumulative revenue when factoring ticket sales, overseas tours, NFTs, and content licensing. A summer 2025 friendly tour of Asia is already penciled in, contingent on Messi’s status. Preliminary talks with venues in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Bangkok anticipate sell-out crowds topping 70,000 per match.

Fan sentiment

Supporters’ groups such as Vice City 1896 have launched the social-media hashtag #MessiForever to demonstrate grassroots passion. Season-ticket renewals for 2024 hit 97%, and the club expects a waiting list of 25,000 for 2025 once extension news breaks. “He made us believe Miami can be the world capital of football,” says fan-club president Luis Gómez. “We’ll shout his name until he retires on our pitch.”

Timeline of key milestones

• July 2023 – Messi signs initial 2.5-year contract with Inter Miami.
• August 2023 – Wins Leagues Cup, the club’s first trophy.
• January 2024 – Preliminary extension talks begin.
• June 2024 – Formal proposal delivered to Messi’s representatives.
• September 2024 – Target date for verbal agreement.
• December 2025 – Current contract set to expire.

Opinion: why the extension makes sense

Securing the world’s most influential footballer is more than a sporting decision; it is an economic imperative for MLS and a cultural boon for South Florida. Yes, Saudi coffers are deep, but the holistic package—family comfort, equity upside, and North America’s World Cup narrative—gives Inter Miami a persuasive edge. In truth, Messi’s American chapter feels only half-written. Betting that he will ink fresh terms in Miami seems safer than ever.