Massive new deal for the world’s best footballer

By The Gaffer on February 7, 2013

Lionel Messi has signed a new deal with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until 2018.

Messi, 25, had a deal that was due to expire in 2016 but the Spanish side were keen to tie him down to a new, and improved, long-term deal. Lionel Messi joined Barcelona when he was 13, and made his first team début at just 16. Messi has since become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer en route to helping the team lift many trophies and won four FIFA Ballon D’Or titles, so far.

His new deal is reportedly worth €16m a year after tax.

“I’m very happy at Barcelona, I have always said so. It’s a great day,” said Argentine Lionel Messi, who is now set to remain a Barcelona player until 2018

“I don’t know how I will be when I reach 31. I just go forward day by day and try to enjoy playing football here,” he said.

Enjoy playing football? Well, we certainly enjoy watching the talented Argentine strut his stuff on the world’s biggest stage.