Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said on Friday that he expects captain Lionel Messi to stay at the club through 2026 and that he sought the Argentine’s input regarding the search for a new head coach.

Martino guided Inter Miami to the best regular season in MLS history before being stunned in the first round of the playoffs.

Javier Mascherano has reportedly agreed to be the next coach at Inter Miami, where he would reunite with former teammate Lionel Messi.

“The team has grown so much with Martino’s arrival,” Messi told reporters on the eve of the Leagues Cup final in August 2023. He repeated that on October 2 this year in a post-match interview with Apple TV after scoring two goals against the Columbus Crew to secure the Supporters’ Shield.

Gerardo Martino held a press conference to explain the reasons behind his resignation from Inter Miami, shedding light on his relationship with Lionel Messi during their year and a half together in Major League Soccer.

The MLS continues to grow and attract top talent, with Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami significantly boosting the league's profile. Now, it seems that another big name could be heading to the United States,

Inter Miami 'fully expect' Lionel Messi to stay with the club until at least 2026, according to owner Jorge Mas. The Argentine legend is coming off his first full season in Major League Soccer. Messi joined David Beckham's Inter Miami franchise in the summer of 2023 but only played a handful of games in his first few months in the US.