Are Inter Miami just a 'team of Lionel Messi's friends'? Star's contract renewal could decide future of Luis Suarez & Co., claims ex-Uruguay star

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has been in the United States since the summer of 2023. At that point, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward bid farewell to European football. He decided to go chasing the American dream, with Manchester United and England legend David Beckham helping to make that move possible.

Messi was joined in the Sunshine State by former Barca team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Veteran frontman Suarez then linked up with a number of familiar faces in Miami, with Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul the latest to have been reunited with fellow world champion Messi.

It is being suggested that all-time great Messi, who remains a huge draw for audiences across America, is ready to sign a new contract. His current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2025 campaign, but fresh terms are being mooted. They could take the 38-year-old beyond his 40th birthday - as he emulates eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Suarez may decide to follow suit, having previously expressed a desire to hang up his boots at the same time as Messi. The prolific No.9 has, however, suffered with knee problems in recent years and may struggle to push his body through more competitive action. Some big decisions lie in store for prominent figures at Chase Stadium.

Quizzed on whether his fellow countryman Suarez will join Messi is penning a new deal, ex-Uruguay international Poyet - speaking in association with William Hill - told GOAL: "I know you can be very good friends, but professional careers and professional contracts are individual. I respect his opinion but he will find it difficult. The physical situation of Messi is not the physical situation of Suarez. They are completely different. But it’s Miami.

"There are always certain rumours that Messi decides and asks for certain players. There were big rumours in the national team of Argentina that they used to call them the team of the ‘Amigos of Messi’. Is it true or not? I don’t know. If they were with him, they were going. Suarez has said this, and they are together all the time. Now De Paul went there, they were together all the time, walking behind him - he looked like his bodyguard. Certain friends are going to Miami. Maybe there is a situation where Messi renews and two or three stay there. It sounds quite logical."

Former Brazil star Gilberto Silva is among the latest to have advised Messi that he should prolong his record-shattering playing career for as long as possible. The one-time Arsenal ‘Invincible’ said of his fellow South American and World Cup winner: "Lionel Messi is enjoying his life and football in America, and I'm happy that he's extending his career. As a player, you have to do as much as you can because once you finish, it's done. There's no way back, and there is nothing in life that fulfils you in the same way being a player does. It's a different life, even though you enjoy other parts of life and other things, such as family and spare time with friends. But football is something very unique, something that players dream of when they are kids, to be playing for a club. If you can extend your career as much as he is doing, like Cristiano and Thiago Silva, this is brilliant. I love to see something like this."

Messi has been showing no sign of slowing down, with 32 goals being recorded for Inter Miami across all competitions in the 2025 season. He is guiding them towards the play-offs once more and, as the reigning MVP in America, is determined to savour ultimate MLS Cup as his historic haul of major trophies is enhanced.