Lionel Messi Mum pada Ekstensi Inter Miami saat menghadiri final sepak bola 1V1
Lionel Messi went to watch some soccer on Friday. He didn’t say a word about his own future.
The Inter Miami star — who is closing in on a contract extension that will keep him with his Major League Soccer club through at least the 2026 season and likely beyond — showed up to watch the global finals of the 1v1 soccer tournament that he helped create and is sponsored by a hydration drink that he co-founded.
His appearance came days after he and Inter Miami closed in on an extension, one that the sides have been working on for months and would assure him of being with the club when it plans to open its new stadium near Miami International Airport next year.
Messi watched both the men’s and women’s semifinals and then the finals of his event. He greeted the winners on stage and signed autographs for fans, even taking a large group selfie with the entire crowd at the end.
But there were no hints about the contract — he did not address reporters — and no news was coming from his team on Friday, either.
“I hope it happens soon, because I think it’s great news not only for the club but for MLS in general, right?” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said earlier Friday at the team’s training base in Fort Lauderdale, when asked about the extension.
“I don’t think it’s just for the team,” Mascherano said. “Obviously, for the team, for the club, for the history of this club, it’s something unique. But I think for soccer in general in the United States, it would be very, very important news. They could have the best player who has ever played this sport here for a while longer.”
[MORE: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami Near Deal To Extend Contract Through at Least 2026]
Messi menjadi kapten Argentina dengan gelar Piala Dunia pada tahun 2022 dan telah menjadi bagian dari pertandingan kualifikasi dengan tim – tetapi belum secara resmi mengatakan bahwa ia akan bermain di turnamen ketika datang ke AS, Kanada, dan Meksiko tahun depan.
Messi berusia 38 tahun memiliki 20 gol-kedua terbanyak di liga-dan 11 assist dalam bermain MLS musim ini.
Dia bergabung dengan Inter Miami pada Juli 2023 dengan kontrak dua setengah tahun, satu yang bernilai sekitar $ 150 juta pada saat itu. Messi adalah MVP MLS musim lalu, bahkan dalam setahun ketika ia melewatkan 15 dari 34 pertandingan musim reguler Inter Miami dengan cedera atau komitmen tim nasional.
Dia telah membantu tim memenangkan dua trofi pertama, Piala Liga pada tahun 2023 dan Shield para pendukung karena memiliki rekor terbaik di MLS musim lalu.
[MORE: Lionel Messi Joins Elite MLS Company With His Latest Scoring Feat]
Messi dan Inter Miami akan bermain DC United pada hari Sabtu. Miami membuka akhir pekan keenam di Wilayah Timur, delapan poin di belakang Philadelphia tempat pertama-tetapi dengan tiga pertandingan di tangan para pemimpin konferensi dan masih dalam perlombaan untuk salah satu unggulan playoff top serta perisai pendukung.
Pelaporan oleh Associated Press.
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