KEY POINTS

  • Lionel Messi has finally won the World Cup with Argentina
  • He also won the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament
  • Messi has netted 12 goals and 14 assists for PSG this season

Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to sign an extension with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Messi's current contract with PSG will expire at the end of the 2022-23 season. Messi had earlier said he wouldn't discuss his future until after the World Cup. Contract talks have paced up since his triumph at the Qatar World Cup.

Argentina defeated reigning champions France on penalties in the final to lift the World Cup. While it was Messi's first World Cup trophy, it was Argentina's third overall, the first since the 1986 edition.

Messi and PSG have agreed to extend the Argentina skipper's contract by a year, reported French outlet Le Parisien. PSG, however, have confirmed the agreement was done verbally, reported Goal.com.

An agreement between Messi and PSG was reportedly reached during the World Cup through Messi's father and agent, Jorge.

Earlier it was reported that the new contract would see Messi's salary remain roughly the same.

One of the final images from the World Cup was Qatar's emir putting a traditional Arab cloak over Argentina star Lionel Messi
AFP

Messi clinched several records in the Qatar World Cup. He became the first-ever player to score in the group stage, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and the final of a single World Cup campaign. The former FC Barcelona superstar also bagged the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament.

He missed out on the Golden Boot as he finished with seven goals, one less than leading scorer Kylian Mbappe, who is Messi's PSG teammate.

Messi is currently in Argentina celebrating his World Cup victory with fans, his friends, and his family. Once he returns to Paris, the 35-year-old forward is expected to sit down with the owner and sporting director of PSG to finalize his contract.

He parted ways with his boyhood club Barcelona in the summer of 2021 but struggled in his maiden campaign with PSG. However, Messi has bounced back, netting 12 goals and 14 assists for PSG in the ongoing campaign. PSG are five points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Messi's family is fully settled in Paris. PSG officials are reportedly delighted with him and have been pushing for the extension for months.

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