Lionel Messi Agrees to Contract Extension at PSG, per Report

Fresh off a legendary performance at the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to a contract extension with PSG, according to Le Parisien.

The 35-year-old’s current deal with PSG is set to expire this summer, which led to reports over the last few months suggesting that he was close to sealing a move to Inter Miami. The reports claimed the lucrative summer switch to MLS would have made him the highest-paid player in the league’s history, while potentially including an ownership stake in the MLS club run by David Beckham. 

But now Messi is reportedly set to stay in the French capital for at least another season as he looks to add another Champions League title to his newly claimed World Cup, which has made him the favorite to win a record eighth Ballon d’Or. Le Parisien claims he’ll sign with PSG through the 2023-24 season.

Messi is midway through the second season of a two-year deal with the French giants that he signed after an emotional exit from Barcelona in the summer of 2021. This season, in just 13 league games, he has already passed his goal total from all of last season with seven Ligue 1 goals so far. He also leads Ligue 1 with 10 assists.

In Qatar, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory after a roller-coaster month that ended with a penalty-shootout win over defending champion France in Sunday’s epic final. After scoring twice in the final, Messi finished second behind PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot with seven goals, which included a goal in every knockout stage match. He had entered his fifth World Cup without ever scoring in the knockout stage. 

Even with the World Cup victory, the Argentine superstar said he wants to continue playing for La Albiceleste in order to represent the team as a world champion. The World Cup triumph was Argentina’s third, but first since Diego Maradona led the team to victory in 1986.