MIAMI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lionel Messi has agreed to extend his contract with Inter Miami until beyond his 41st birthday, the MLS club said on Thursday.

The 38-year-old, whose previous contract had been due to expire in December, agreed personal terms of a deal that runs until the end of 2028.

"Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that's exactly what we have done," co-owner David Beckham said in a statement. "He's still as committed as he's ever been and he still wants to win."

Messi has scored 71 goals and provided 37 assists in 82 appearances since joining the club in 2023, helping Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters' Shield.

The Argentine World Cup winner claimed this year's MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and is one of five players shortlisted for the league's MVP award.

"Having Leo commit his future to Inter Miami shows his belief in what we're building here," Beckham added. "He's changed the face of the game in this country, and we couldn't be prouder to have him lead our club into the future."

Inter Miami finished third in the MLS Eastern Conference at the end of the regular season. The Florida outfit is due to play Nashville on Friday in the first round of the playoffs, to be decided over three matches. ■