体坛英语新闻：Barcelona announce agreement on new Messi contract

MADRID, May 16 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona confirmed on Friday that he club has reached an agreement with Leo Messi to extend the striker's contract with the club.

"FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player. The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days," said a message on the Barcelona website.

Although the club has not yet released any details of the deal, it is expected the new contract will make Messi the best paid player in the world, with a salary of around 20 million euros (27. 4 million US dollars) a year, more than Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to in his recent new contract with Real Madrid.

Messi's current deal expires in 2018 and negotiations over the new contract have been ongoing for several months, although they were stopped for a short while after Sandro Rosell was forced to resign as club president in January.

Despite not celebrating his 27th birthday until June, Messi has played more games for the Barca first team than any other foreigner (424) and is the club's all-time highest goalscorer ( 354).

He joined Barca as a 13 year-old and since breaking into the first team when he was just 16 in the 2004-2005 season. He has won 21 major titles, including 6 Spanish Leagues, 3 Champions League titles, 2 Spanish Cups, 2 Clubs World Championships, 2 European Supercups and 6 Spanish Supercups.

He will hope to add another title to that account on Saturday when Barcelona entertain Atletico Madrid knowing a win will see them retain the BBVA Primera Liga title.