Report: Messi, Barcelona reach agreement on new five-year contract

Lionel Messi will remain with his La Liga club for the foreseeable future. Messi and Barcelona have come to terms on a five-year contract, according to ESPN. He is reportedly taking a “significant wage reduction” to remain with his club.

Messi’s contract expired after this past season and there were questions as to if he would be able to return given the kinds of dollars involved. The New York Times reported earlier this week that Barcelona would be required to cut upwards of $240 million in salary before it could register any new players. Prior to this deal, Messi was on a four-year contract that with all possible incentives could have been worth nearly $675 million, according to the Times.

Messi is coming off his first major senior level international trophy with Argentina defeating Brazil in the Copa América Final. Messi tied for the lead in goals through the tournament with four and led with five assists. This came following a 2020-21 La Liga campaign in which he lead the league in goals with 30.