Lionel Messi Signs New Contract With Barcelona, Could Become The Highest Paid Footballer

Lionel Messi has signed the most awaited contract with Barcelona which is said to be the biggest relief for the Catalans as they retained the player until 2021. The 30-year-old attacker has been playing for Barcelona since he was 13 and his last contract was coming to an end by the end of 2017/18 season.

Lionel Messi, who recently got married to her long-time girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo and is enjoying his honeymoon, is soon going to join Barcelona for the pre-season training. Meanwhile, after the tax evasion controversy, all has been going well for Lionel Messi both in his personal as well as professional life.

Although he failed to take Barcelona to the Champions Trophy and La Liga Title, both of which Real Madrid claimed in the recently concluded season, Lionel Messi is still the biggest Ballon d’Or contender along with Cristiano Ronaldo and has also claimed the Pichichi award for the most number of goal scored in La Liga.

Lionel Messi is still to pen to paper on the new contract after he returns from his honeymoon but while the exact details of the contract have not been revealed, €300 million is what Lionel Messi is expected to get from 2019-2021. The contract also has a one-year extension clause which could take Lionel Messi’s association with Barcelona to 21 years.

Barcelona confirmed the news by releasing a statement that read,

“Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the club until June 30, 2021. The deal will be signed in the coming weeks when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training”.

“The club is very happy with both the renewal and the commitment of Messi, the best player in history, who has played his full professional career at Barca and has led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football.”

Lionel Messi made his Barcelona debut in 2004 as a teenager and quickly rose to stardom, establishing himself as one of the best footballer in the world by 22. He is the only player to ever won claim Ballon d’Or awards, four of which coming in consecutive years.

Lionel Messi’s decision to renew his contract is a welcome boost for new Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde who can now focus on strengthening a team which lost its domestic dominance to Real Madrid and was knocked out of the Champions League from the quarter-final stage.

As for Lionel Messi, being the highest paid footballer in the world is what he deserves and it is the same that he is getting amid rumors of Manchester City being head on heels to sign him. During his illustrious career at Camp Nou, he has scored 507 goals out of which, 54 came in 52 appearances during the 2016/17 season. The Argentine has taken Barcelona to eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, occasions, five Copa del Reys, among a total of 29 trophies.

Last year, Neymar and Luis Suarez also signed their respective contractors and will remain at Barcelona till 2021. With the front trio being retained, Ernesto Valverde will now focus on the defense and bringing fresh blood to Camp Nou.