Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with Barcelona before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FootballDirectNews.com understands.
Messi has recently returned to full fitness after time spent out injured and has once again returned to the form that saw him labelled the world’s best player.
He lost that crown to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in January but he is set to go ahead of the Portuguese forward in terms of money earned, when he pens a new deal with Barcelona early this summer.
Messi currently earns a salary of 33m per year after signing a new deal last season, but he currently earns only half of that amount due to tax laws in Spain that see 50% of wages given back to authorities.
Madrid and Ronaldo agreed a deal last summer to extend the former Manchester United man’s deal, earning him a whopping 35m per year, but it is believed that both Messi and the Catalan club feel he should earn more.
The 26-year-old will sign a new deal towards the end of the season now, after the club have finalised the renewal of Martin Montoya and finished their two-legged Champions League tie with Manchester City.
