Lionel Messi has announced that the 2026 MLS season will be his last as a professional footballer, setting the stage for a farewell tour that is generating unprecedented interest in Major League Soccer. The 38-year-old Argentine has transformed Inter Miami into a legitimate championship contender.
Messi's announcement came via a heartfelt social media post translated into English and Spanish, thanking American fans for embracing him and crediting MLS for giving him a wonderful final chapter. The post received over 100 million interactions across platforms.
Ticket prices for Inter Miami's remaining road games have skyrocketed, with premium seats exceeding $2,000 in some markets. MLS has adjusted the broadcast schedule to feature more Inter Miami games on Apple TV's national windows.
On the pitch, Messi continues to perform at an extraordinary level, recording 8 goals and 11 assists in 12 games this season. Inter Miami sits atop the Eastern Conference and is considered the MLS Cup favorite.
His impact on American soccer extends beyond the pitch. Youth soccer registrations have increased 25% since his arrival, and MLS has signed its most lucrative broadcast deal in history, partly credited to the Messi effect.
