Inter Miami 'confident' Lionel Messi will extend MLS stay despite intense Saudi interest | OneFootball

The face of the MLS is not going anywhere

Lionel Messi is set to sign a one-year contract extension at Inter Miami despite concrete interest from the Saudi Pro League.

The legendary Argentine winger moved to the MLS outfit from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, scoring 52 goals in 64 appearances since.

Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas said in April: “My hope has always been to see Messi play at our new stadium in 2026. Hopefully, that happens.

“The stars are aligning for something great, for a beautiful future for the club and for Lionel. It is solely his decision.”

Messi’s current deal, said to include a $12million (£8.8m) annual base salary, is due to expire at the end of the year, prompting fresh interest from Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal.

Saudi higher-ups have long hoped to bring Messi to the Saudi Pro League alongside his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently signed a fresh two-year deal worth £178m per year with Al Nassr.

Messi came close to joining Al Hilal in 2023, shortly after the Portuguese signed to Al Nassr, but opted to stay in Europe.

And the ‘little magician’ has again shunned interest from the Middle East this summer, according to reports in L’Equipe, deciding instead to extend his stay in the United States.

Speaking to TIME Magazine in March, he described Saudi offers as ‘very interesting’.

“I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league,” he admitted.

“As the country's tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I've enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition.

“It was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me.”

Messi played every minute of Inter Miami’s Club World Cup campaign this summer, scoring from a free kick against Porto before being dumped out by his former club PSG in the round of 16. He hit a brace on return to MLS action on Sunday as the Herons downed Montreal 4-1.