Lionel Messi receives Inter Miami stadium honour

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 28 Mar 2026 07:08 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Lionel Messi is set to have a stand named after him at Inter Miami's new stadium.

The Argentine has become the face of the Major League Soccer side since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2026 and helped Miami to their first ever MLS Cup in 2025.

Late last year, he signed a new contract extension to tie him to the club until 2028.

Considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history, Messi has won an unmatched eight Ballon d'Or trophies and has numerous league and Champions League wins to his name with Barcelona, as well as the World Cup with Argentina which came in 2022.

Inter Miami's 'Nu Stadium' will open next month and will feature a 'Lionel Messi Stand'.

The club said in a statement: "Traditionally, tributes look to the past. They are built from nostalgia. From memory. This one is different. This one is born from the present.

"From what is happening right now. From what you feel every time Leo steps on to the pitch.

"Recognising someone is not always about closing a chapter. Sometimes it is about realising you are witnessing something unique."

This is the second time Messi will be honoured with a stand being named after him as first club Newell's Old Boys did this in June of 2025.

The Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, named after their former manager, is also known as El Coloso. The stands that make up the ground are named after Diego Maradona, Maxi Rodríguez, Tata Martino and Messi.

The Miami superstar never actually played a professional game for Newell's but it was there that he was discovered as a young phenomenon before moving to Barcelona at the age of 13.

How much does Messi earn at Inter Miami?

Messi's Inter Miami salary was previously revealed by owner Jorge Mas, who has explained how the MLS franchise can his superstar wages.

Messi, 38, signed a new three-year contract with Inter Miami in 2025, tying him to the club until 2028 and effectively binding the rest of his playing days to the franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham.

Mas has revealed that Messi receives between $70 million and $80m per year from the club via equity rights and player compensation.

Inter Miami have to have a different structure in terms of their franchise to help fund deals for elite players such as Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, Mas said.

In particular, the Florida club are reliant on commercial deals, which account for around 55% of their club revenue. This is because their media rights offer just 2% of their revenue.

“The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive,” he said, according to quotes from Bloomberg.

“I pay Messi - worth every penny - but it’s $70 to $80 million a year. Across everything.”

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