Barcelona have announced that Lionel Messi has agreed on a new contract which keeps him at the club until 2021.
The forward’s previous contract ran until the summer of 2018, but his improved terms are said to be in the region of £500,000 per week, with a release clause set at €300m (£263m).
“FC Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the Club until June 30th, 2021,” a club statement stated on Wednesday,
“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.”
Messi, who recently turned 30, has scored a club record 507 goals in 583 games for Barcelona, winning five Ballon d’Or while staking a claim to being the greatest player to ever grace the game.
He has won eight La Liga titles with Barca, as well as four Champions Leagues, five Spanish Cups, three Club World Cups and three European Super Cups.
Last week, Messi married his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo.
It is still unclear whether his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, will commit his own future to Real Madrid.
