Lionel Messi signs new Barcelona deal

Lionel Messi has signed his two-year contract extension with Barcelona.

The Argentina superstar put pen to paper on his new deal at the Nou Camp this afternoon and is now tied to the Catalan giants until June 30, 2018.

Messi follows in the footsteps of fellow club stalwarts Xavi and Carles Puyol, both of whom signed contract extensions last month.

The new deals all come after the trio signed new contracts with the club only as recently as December.
A statement on the club's official website read:

"This afternoon Leo Messi extended his contract with FC Barcelona through June 30 of 2018.

"The signing ceremony was attended by the player, President Sandro Rosell, Vice-President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta.

"The player, who joined the Club when he was 13 years old and made his first-team debut three years later, will be 31 when his contract expires."