Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami had not been signed as of early Friday, deal is imminent

Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer had not yet been signed as of early Friday and was in the final stages of the legal process, a source with knowledge of the deal told The Athletic. 

That source was granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the contract.

The contract was expected to be signed imminently and the team is planning to officially announce Messi in a press release ahead of an event Sunday in which Messi will be unveiled to fans at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Messi has taken a medical and done photo and video sessions with Inter Miami ahead of the official announcement, the source said.

Inter Miami could not immediately be reached for comment.

• Transfer blog — live updates

• Women’s World Cup 2023: Group guides
• Women’s World Cup fixtures, results, tables
• Women’s World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know

Cameras have captured Messi going in and out of the Inter Miami training facility in the last two days, as well as leaving dinner at a local restaurant and in a grocery store in the area. Messi was photographed getting off of a private jet with his family at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on July 11. The family had been on vacation in the Bahamas.

Messi announced on June 7 that he would continue his career in MLS with Inter Miami. The announcement came after he completed the season with Paris Saint-Germain, but before he had agreed to terms with Inter Miami and MLS.

The sides have spent the last month hashing out the complicated deal, which includes addenda to the typical MLS standard player agreement. Messi is expected to get an equity share in Inter Miami when he finishes player, and Miami owner Jorge Mas has told reporters he expects the total package to be worth somewhere in the range of $50-60 million per year.

Messi is expected to debut for Inter Miami on July 21 in a Leagues Cup game against Liga MX side Cruz Azul.

Inter Miami has also teased an agreement with Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, on its social media pages. Busquets was seen at an airport in Madrid saying goodbye to staff from Athletic Bilbao ahead of flying to Miami, according to reports in Spanish media.

GO DEEPER

Talents like Lionel Messi and Shohei Ohtani do their talking a different way

(Photo: Getty Images)