Lionel Messi new contract: Barcelona and star reach agreement on five-year deal

Messi expected to sign long-term contract extension later this month

Lionel Messi will continue to be a Barcelona player after reaching an agreement with the club on a new five-year deal. CBS soccer insider Fabrizio Romano initially reported that the deal between the two sides was agreed weeks ago with only details remaining to be ironed out before it was made official. The Argentina international just won the Copa America with his country and is currently on holiday before the 2021-22 season gets underway with Barca with him expected to put pen to paper on the agreement later this month. Messi, 34, saw his contract expire at the end of last month with the Catalan giants' poor financial health a major obstacle in getting the deal signed and ratified. The new deal will include him taking a significant salary cut as a result.