Lionel Messi Agrees A Contract Extension At PSG Amid Interest From Barcelona And The MLS.

Lionel Messi has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to extend his contract with his club side Paris Saint-Germain for at least another year.

The 35-year-old, has given his word to the Ligue 1 club that he'll put pen to paper on new terms before his current deal runs out at the end of the season. 

The new deal will keep him at the Parc des Princes until the end of the 2023-24 campaign, by which time he will be 37.

This was been agreed 72 hours after he was crowned World Cup champions with his country Argentina on Sunday night at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, following a penalty shootout victory against then defending champions France.

Acccording to reports from French newspaper Le Parisien, the two parties came to an agreement during the World Cup, which Messi finally lifted with Argentina at his fifth attempt. 

There's been regular talks in recent months with PSG keen to tie the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner down.

His dad Jorge, who also acts as his agent, has been in regular discussion with PSG during the World Cup, and he had secured an agreement in principle with club chiefs earlier this month.

Messi became a free agent after his contract expired with Barcelona, he joined PSG in August 2021, and has since registered 23 goals and 29 assists across 53 appearances in all competitions.

His former club Barcelona, and MLS side Inter Miami, who are co-owned by David Beckham, were touted as a possible destination. But it's believed Messi wants to keep playing at the top in Europe, as PSG is set to compete for a Ligue 1 and their first-ever Champions league title (but Messi's fifth) over the coming months.

Messi superb performances in Qatar, where he scored eight goals, including two in the final against France, have proved that he still has an abundance to offer.

There is every chance he could win an eighth Ballon d’Or, as he is already the red-hot early favourite for the award, which will be handed out next October.

The Argentine is believed to enjoy holidays in Miami and various reports had stated that both Barca and Miami approached Messi for a potential transfer, but talks never advanced with either.

MLS will now have to wait at least another 18 months to get their man.