Barcelona star, Lionel Messi has signed a new contract that would make him the best paid footballer in the world. He will only overtake his Real Madrid nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo by a very small fraction. While Ronaldo’s salary is put at €20 million per year, Messi will earn

€20.5 million. Despite the new package, Ronaldo will earn more from image rights.

Below is a statement on the club’s site

“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.”

This will also end the rumours making rounds for the past few weeks linking him with one club or the other. In actual fact, over 15 clubs reportedly approached him this season. The Argentine is 8 goals away from becoming the highest goalscorer in the history of the Spanish first division. The new contract will expire in 2019.