Lionel Messi has retired from international soccer with Argentina, bringing an end to one of the greatest national-team careers in the history of the sport. However, Messi’s retirement from Argentina does not mean his playing career is over.
The Argentine superstar remains under contract with Inter Miami CF and could continue playing in Major League Soccer for more than two additional seasons.
So, when does Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract expire?
When Does Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Contract Expire?
Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
Inter Miami announced Messi’s contract extension in October 2025, securing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner beyond his original agreement with the club.
The extension means Messi could remain with Inter Miami through 2028 despite ending his international career with Argentina in 2026.
Lionel Messi Inter Miami Contract Details
| Contract Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Lionel Messi |
| Club | Inter Miami CF |
| League | Major League Soccer |
| Contract Expires | End of 2028 MLS season |
| International Team | Argentina |
| International Retirement | 2026 |
| Age in 2026 | 39 |
| Potential Age in 2028 | 41 |
Is Lionel Messi Retiring From Soccer?
No. Messi’s retirement from Argentina does not currently mean he is retiring from professional club soccer.
Messi remains an Inter Miami player and is under contract through the 2028 season.
Unless Messi and Inter Miami decide to end the agreement early, he could continue playing in MLS into his early 40s.
There has been no announcement indicating that Messi plans to immediately retire from Inter Miami following the end of his Argentina career.
How Old Will Lionel Messi Be When His Inter Miami Contract Ends?
Messi was born on June 24, 1987, meaning he turned 39 years old in June 2026.
If Messi plays through the entire 2028 MLS season, he will be 41 years old during the final year of his current Inter Miami contract.
That would give Messi the opportunity to finish his professional playing career in South Florida, although he has not confirmed exactly when he intends to retire from club soccer.
Why Retiring From Argentina Could Help Messi at Inter Miami
Ending his international career could potentially allow Messi to extend his club career.
Playing for Argentina required Messi to balance Inter Miami’s MLS schedule with international matches, training camps and travel throughout South America and around the world.
Without those international commitments, Messi could have additional recovery time between Inter Miami matches.
It would also eliminate scheduling conflicts that have previously taken Messi away from Inter Miami during international windows.
For Inter Miami, that could mean having Messi available more consistently throughout the MLS season.
Messi’s Historic Argentina Career Comes to an End
Messi leaves Argentina as one of the most accomplished international players in soccer history.
The defining achievement of his international career came when he captained Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup championship in Qatar, defeating France in a dramatic final.
Messi also helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América, ending the country’s long wait for a major international trophy, before adding another Copa América championship in 2024.
Those victories transformed the final years of Messi’s Argentina career after the superstar had previously experienced several painful defeats in major international finals.
His international retirement now shifts the focus entirely toward the remaining years of his club career.
How Long Could Messi Continue Playing for Inter Miami?
Messi could theoretically play for Inter Miami for the remainder of the 2026, 2027 and 2028 MLS seasons under his current contract.
His timeline now looks relatively straightforward:
2026: Messi retires from Argentina but continues playing for Inter Miami.
2027: Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami.
2028: Final season of Messi’s current Inter Miami contract.
What happens after 2028 remains unknown.
Messi could retire completely, sign another short-term contract with Inter Miami or make another decision regarding the final stage of his playing career.
Could Messi Retire Before His Contract Expires?
It is possible.
A contract running through 2028 does not guarantee Messi will play every season through the end of the agreement.
Age, injuries, fitness and Messi’s personal plans could ultimately influence when he decides to stop playing.
However, as things currently stand, Messi remains committed to Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season.
His retirement from Argentina therefore represents the end of his international career rather than the end of his professional soccer career.
When Could Lionel Messi Fully Retire?
The end of the 2028 MLS season now represents an obvious potential point for Messi to consider retirement from professional soccer.
Messi will be 41 by then and will have spent more than five years with Inter Miami after joining the MLS club in July 2023.
For now, however, Messi’s focus shifts from representing Argentina to continuing his historic career with Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi may be finished playing for Argentina, but soccer fans could still have more than two years of Messi in an Inter Miami jersey before his current contract expires.