Billion-dollar man

Messi the billion-dollar man

The news ended speculation that the five-times world player of the year could leave for free in June.

"FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season," a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside president Josep Maria Bartomeu, read.

"The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (NZ $1.2 billion)."