Messi's future nearly decided as 'contract talks progress well'

Stuart Telford

• 4 Jan 2023 15:15 CST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi looks set to extend his stay at Paris Saint-Germain, dashing the hopes of David Beckham's Inter Miami and former club Barcelona.

Inter and Barca had both been optimistic of securing Messi's services, especially after he failed to discuss renewed terms with PSG before the World Cup in Qatar, which he won with Argentina.

Messi is out of contract at the Parc des Princes this summer, and another project might have appealed to him after his recent triumph, but reports from France suggest that he is on the cusp of extending his stay in Paris.

READ: Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23

'Agreement in principle'

"An agreement in principle has already been reached between the various parties according to information from RMC Sport," write the aforementioned. "Nothing has been signed yet, but if things go well his extension could be finalised by the end of January."

Messi had a difficult first season in Paris after arriving on a free transfer from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, but has been in fine form this term, contributing 12 goals and 14 assists at a rate of one every 64 minutes he has played.

He carried that into the World Cup, and had seven goals and three assists as he led his nation to their first title since the Diego Maradona-inspired triumph in 1986, the year before he was born.

READ: Joan Laporta blamed for Messi’s exit from Barcelona

Messi is currently the second-best paid player at PSG after Kylian Mbappe, his base pay of €63.6m per year €8.4m less than what the Frenchman earns.

He could become the top earner soon enough if reports of Real Madrid's reignited interest in Mbappe are to be believed. The France talisman spurned Real in May, signing a new deal at the Parc des Princes which made him the highest paid athlete of all time.