Lionel Messi is one of the world’s top football stars, and even as he continues to advance in age through the twilight of his career, he remains one of the most popular figures in the sport.
His club future remains a constant discussion, despite being under contract at his current side PSG, where his short-term deal expires soon.
Messi’s start to life at the Parisian club was rocky, failing to reproduce his magical days at Barcelona and causing many to speculate that the end of his playing days was closer than we had imagined. Yet this season he has shown new life, turning back the clock and proving that he still has plenty left in the tank.
While the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is at the forefront of Messi’s mind, speculation on what will happen in the summer of 2023 continue, with a push towards playing in the United States for David Beckham’s club gaining steam.
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Is Messi going to Inter Miami?
According to an October 31 report by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Inter Miami co-owners Jorge Mas and Jose Mas have held “numerous meetings” with Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi.
Ornstein’s report indicates that PSG are “pushing hard” to re-sign Messi in the summer of 2023, while Barcelona have also publicly harbored dreams of convincing Messi to return. There is clear competition for the MLS side when it comes to Messi’s future.
Yet Ornstein writes that Inter Miami brass “expect Messi to arrive and hope he will sign in the coming months,” indicating an optimistic feeling within the club that they will be successful at landing the superstar.
The report states that discussions have been taking place “for a couple of years” and that there is “increasing confidence that the proposed transfer will materialise.” Messi’s family already owns property in Miami, and Ornstein reports that a move to the city is an attractive proposal for the player and his family.
There were similar upbeat reports from Real Madrid executives about their quest to sign Kylian Mbappe, until the player made a sensational U-turn in the summer of 2022 returning to deep-pocketed PSG on a monster salary. It may be true that the MLS club feels confident of success, but that does not mean other parties are out of the running.
Ornstein’s report states that no further negotiations will take place until after the World Cup, which coincides with earlier reports. Messi has seemingly put all discussion of his club future on hold so he can focus on remaining in top form for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
MORE: How many Ballon d’Or trophies has Lionel Messi won?
Lionel Messi contract, salary at PSG
Upon arriving in the French capital in the summer of 2021 from his longtime club Barcelona, Messi signed a two-year contract at PSG with an option for a third season, which if exercised will take him into the summer of 2024. However, he could depart a year earlier if he declines his option, allowing him to choose a new club in the summer of 2023.
According to a report by French publication L’Equipe, Messi’s contract at PSG sees him earn €110 million over the life of the three-year deal, with €30 million paid the first season, and €40 million through each of the final two campaigns. The financials of Messi’s deal are identical to that of his Brazilian teammate Neymar, according to the report.
There have been whispers of PSG looking to extend Messi’s contract beyond the current limits of the deal, but reports indicate that he will only begin discussions following the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup.
MORE: Lionel Messi stats, goals and assists in 2022/23
Lionel Messi to Inter Miami news, timeline
According to a May 16, 2022 report by Alex Candal of Argentine outlet Futbol Total DirecTV, Lionel Messi has agreed to terms of a contract with MLS side Inter Miami that will see the Argentine join in the summer of 2023.
The report stated that as part of the contract, Messi will also acquire a 35 percent stake in the club, which according to Front Office Sports is worth over $200 million. There were immediate denials from Messi’s camp and Inter Miami declined to comment on the report when contacted by The Sporting News.
That reported deal harkens back to the one David Beckham signed in January of 2007 that brought the English superstar to the LA Galaxy. Beckham’s contract gave him the option to secure ownership in an MLS expansion club for the cut-rate fee of $25 million, an option which he then exercised in February of 2014. That eventually led Beckham to owning Inter Miami, which began play in 2020.
💣💣 BOMBA DE @Alex_candal 💣💣
🗣️ “Messi va a adquirir el 35% de las acciones de Inter de Miami y en el verano de 2023 se incorporará al equipo” pic.twitter.com/GtLbjtF0P5
— Futbol Total DIRECTV (@DTVTotal) May 16, 2022
Adding fuel to the fire was David Beckham’s Instagram post that happened to be published on the day the report surfaced. The former PSG star and current Inter Miami owner posted a series of photos which showed Beckham alongside multiple PSG stars. The series included one photo of him and Messi shaking hands, with the caption, “It’s always good to catch up with the PSG family.” He was also pictured in other photos with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Sergio Ramos, and Marco Verratti.
But only a few hours after the initial report of a deal with Inter Miami, there were immediate denials and questions about the credibility of the report. Messi’s camp was quick to issue a strong denial, calling the report “fake news.”
“According to sources close to Messi, the player has not defined his future nor does he have a short-term plan other than staying at PSG,” read an article in Spain’s Sport. It went on to state that Messi will run down his PSG contract and only then determine his next step.
While there’s precedent for MLS to give extremely high-profile players a stake in a club in exchange for playing in the U.S. for a time, a 35 percent stake would seem to be a high price to pay in exchange for Messi’s allegiance for a few seasons. But it’s also a potential creative business solution to leverage Messi’s talent and profile with the player reportedly on a salary of over $30 million per year at PSG.
While the news of a potential ownership stake is new, this isn’t the first time Messi has been linked to an MLS move, and the pattern continues to suggest the Argentine, who reportedly owns a home in South Florida, is open to playing in the United States. However, Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, has also publicly stated that the player would also be open to a return to Barcelona. So there will be plenty of challengers for MLS to compete with.
But Miami owner Jorge Mas has previously indicated his interest in acquiring Messi, telling the Miami Herald in June 2021: “Leo Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time … I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami shirt because I think it will complete the legacy of the greatest player in our generation and will meet with the ambitions of the owners of Inter Miami to build a world class team.”
MORE: Is 2022 Lionel Messi’s last World Cup?
How old is Lionel Messi?
At 35 years old (born June 24, 1987), Lionel Messi has had a glittering career.
Messi began his career as a youth player with his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina. However, he would move on at a young age, heading to Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy in 2000 as a 13-year-old. In Spain he would also receive medical treatments for a growth hormone disorder.
Since debuting for the Catalan club as an 18-year-old in 2004, Messi won 10 La Liga titles (Spanish league), seven Spanish Copa del Rey crowns, and four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona before departing the club in the summer of 2021 upon the expiration of his contract.
Messi captured the French Ligue 1 title n his first season with PSG, with the Champions League and French Cup (Coupe de France) still on the to-do list with Les Parisiens.
Trophies won at Barcelona
| Honor | Titles | Seasons |
| La Liga (Spanish league) |
10 | 2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19 |
| La Liga Player of the Year | 6 | 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15 |
| La Liga top scorer (Pichichi trophy) |
8 | 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 |
| Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) |
7 | 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2020/21 |
| Supercopa de Espana (Spanish Super Cup) |
7 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2015 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2015 |
| European Golden Boot (Top scorer in Europe) |
6 | 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 |
| Ballon d’Or (World Player of the Year) |
7 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 |
| FIFA World Player of the Year (Awarded from 1991-2015) |
1 | 2009 |
| FIFA The Best Award (Player of the Year est. 2015) |
1 | 2019 |
Trophies won at PSG
| Honor | Titles | Seasons |
| Ligue 1 (French league) |
1 | 2021/22 |
| Trophee des Champions (French Super Cup) |
1 | 2022 |
Trophies won with Argentina
| Honor | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa America (South American title) |
1 | 2021 |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best player of tournament) |
1 | 2014 |
| Finalissima (UEFA-CONMEBOL trophy) |
1 | 2022 |
| Olympic gold medal | 1 | 2008 |
| FIFA Under-20 World Cup | 1 | 2005 |
| Argentina Player of the Year | 14 | 2005, 2007-2013, 2015-2017, 2019-2021 |
