Written by Han Bing After Ronaldo opted to renew with Al Nassr, he has undoubtedly deepened his ties with Saudi football. So where will Messi ultimately choose? Recently, media from Argentina and North America provided an answer. Miami International presented a sincere three-year renewal contract, and Messi will continue to strive to lead Miami International to win trophies in Major League Soccer and the CONCACAF Champions League, while also maintaining his form ahead of the 2026 North American World Cup. After leaving the top five European leagues in 2023, the "indirect competition" between Messi and Ronaldo in two emerging markets will continue.
Argentinian and American media revealed that the renewal contract with Miami International is structured as “2+1,” allowing Messi to extend for another year before the contract expires in 2027. The contract includes a clause for Messi to unilaterally terminate it, allowing him to leave at the end of 2026 or in 2027, with Miami International not obstructing him. Messi can also opt for a short-term loan, providing the possibility of playing in a higher-level league or returning to his former team, Newell's Old Boys, fulfilling his promise of "returning to his roots."
To retain Messi, Miami International has brought in his teammate De Paul from the Argentina national team. The key to the renewal is Messi's desire to win more trophies for the club while maintaining good form for the 2026 North American World Cup.
Continuing to play in North America is the optimal choice for Messi as he approaches his final World Cup. After all, this will be his sixth World Cup, an unprecedented feat. The Argentine superstar has no intention of retiring in the short term, as Ronaldo has proven that a player at 40 can still deliver world-class performances in Saudi Arabia. As long as Messi wants to keep playing, this three-year renewal contract can be extended. Like Ronaldo, after the contract expires, Messi will join the board of Miami International, as he also holds a small stake in the club and will become one of the club's owners in the future.
In 2026, Miami International will move to the newly built Freedom Park Stadium, a modern venue with a capacity of 25,000, which will be the permanent home of Miami International. Messi hopes to win more trophies for Miami International in the new stadium. Although last year they won the Eastern Conference regular season championship of Major League Soccer and the Supporters' Shield for best regular season performance, which qualified them for this year's Club World Cup, it still does not equate to being the true champion of Major League Soccer. Messi also aims to win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy before retiring, which will be his final career goal.
Miami International has offered a lucrative renewal contract to Messi, reflecting the North American capital's full recognition of Messi's commercial value and popularity. The commercial and popularity returns Messi has brought to North American football have reached heights that neither Pelé in the 1970s nor Beckham in the early 2000s could achieve. Before Messi's arrival in 2023, Miami's professional sports were dominated by American football, basketball, and baseball. However, in the two years since his signing, this city, once lacking a football tradition, has transformed into "Messi City." Although Messi's annual salary in 2025 (20.4 million dollars) ranks first in Major League Soccer, even surpassing the total salary of many teams in the league, the economic returns he has brought to Major League Soccer far exceed this amount.
In 2022, before Messi joined, Miami International's annual revenue was only 60 million dollars, but by 2024, it had reached 224 million dollars. This year, due to reaching the round of 16 in the Club World Cup, the annual revenue is expected to double to 450 million dollars. The club's market valuation surged by 72% in the first year after Messi's signing, reaching 1.003 billion dollars. In 2024 and 2025, the valuation further increased by 17% and 25%, respectively. Messi has also brought sponsors like Apple and Adidas to Major League Soccer, signing sponsorship deals worth millions of dollars. The total market value of Major League Soccer clubs has risen from 678 million dollars in 2023 to 721 million dollars in 2025 due to Messi's arrival.
The popularity effect brought by Messi is equally astonishing: teams facing Miami International last year earned an additional 84 million dollars in ticket revenue, and ticket prices for matches featuring Messi skyrocketed 17 times. Major League Soccer has also greatly benefited from Messi's signing, with total league revenue increasing since 2023, and viewership ratings rising by 40%. Last year, a total of 11.4 million spectators attended matches, setting a new record in the history of professional soccer in North America, and this record is expected to be broken again this year. Retaining Messi means continually growing commercial value for both Miami International and Major League Soccer.
For Messi, renewing his contract means that Miami is likely to become his lifelong home. Messi's real estate investments began in Barcelona, and although he has luxury properties in Paris, Ibiza, and his hometown of Newell's, half of them are in Miami and Florida. This includes two luxury apartments in the Porsche Design Tower purchased in 2019, the entire 9th floor luxury apartment of the Miami Grand Residences acquired in 2021, and three floors of apartments in the Trump Royal Tower. In 2023, he purchased a seaside mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 10.75 million dollars. This spring, Messi also acquired a penthouse apartment in the Cipriani Hotel in Miami.
Continuing to stay in Miami is Messi's dual choice for both his competitive life and future life.