Messi extends Barcelona contract until 2021

Lionel Messi ended months of speculation when finally putting pen to paper on Saturday to extend his contract with Barcelona until 2021, the club announced, making official an agreement reached in July. The Spanish giants had announced in the summer that Messi, 30, had committed his future to the club but the Argentine had not signed the new deal.

He made his debut 4,788 days ago. He has played 602 games. He has scored 523 goals. He has won 30 trophies. The story continues.#Messi2021 pic.twitter.com/XPdIhvaqgI

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2017

With his previous contract set to expire in 2018, Messi could have left Barca for free next summer had he not extended his deal. "FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentinian superstar at the club through the 2020/21 season," read a club statement. "The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros ($835 million)."

[BREAKING NEWS] All the details about the new contract between Barça and Lionel #Messi https://t.co/P0Oxn4NjTQ #Messi2021 pic.twitter.com/IWgCTe7M34

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2017

The steep rise in the five-time World Player of the Year's buyout clause from 300 million euros in his previous contract is designed to avoid any repeat of Paris Saint-Germain's capture of Neymar from Barcelona by paying the Brazilian's 222 million euro buyout clause in August. Pressure has been mounting on beleaguered Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu to get Messi to put pen to paper. Bartomeu was heavily criticised for his role in Neymar's departure and a haphazard search for replacements in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Breaking: Lionel Messi has officially put pen to paper on the contract that keeps him at Barcelona until 2021!

[?: @FCBarcelona] pic.twitter.com/Jxq91CUhVn

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 25, 2017

However, Bartomeu saw off a vote of no confidence measure launched by disgruntled fans thanks to Barca's fantastic start to the season, in large part inspired by Messi's form. And Bartomeu now has the image he craved of a smiling Messi tying the remainder of his peak years to the club. Messi's 30 trophies are along with teammate Andres Iniesta the most in Barca's history, including eight La Liga and four Champions League titles.

Lionel Messi's Barcelona story continues!

The Argentina legend has signed a new contract with #barca until the end of the 2020-21 season.

More: https://t.co/uhPTR1Qqw7 pic.twitter.com/ygFj1i83vh

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 25, 2017

The diminutive Argentine, who joined Barca at the age of 13, has also smashed 523 goals in 602 games to become the Catalans' all-time top goalscorer. News of Messi's renewal also comes as a huge boost to the La Liga leaders ahead of Sunday's top of the table clash at Valencia (1945GMT). Barca lead a revitalised Valencia by four points, with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid a further six points adrift, thanks to a club record start of 11 wins and one draw from 12 games.

Lionel Messi has finally signed a new four-year contract with Barcelona until 2021.

The most valuable signature in football ⚽️✍ pic.twitter.com/drZnpamezk

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) November 25, 2017