Messi to become best paid player

 

Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Lionel

Messi , who recently extended his

contract with the Catalan club, is “ the

best- paid player in the world,” club

president Josep Maria Bartomeu said

Friday.

Barcelona announced Wednesday that

Messi had agreed to extend his

contract until 2021, in a deal that will

keep the five times winner of the

Ballon D’ Or at the club until he is 34 .

No financial terms were disclosed but

Bartomeu told the Barcelona sports

daily Mundo Deportivo : “ He is the best

player in the world and he is paid like

the best in the world and in the

history of football .

“ He is the best - paid sports player

because no one brings as much to his

club as Leo Messi .”

Prior to his contract extension , Messi

was the third highest paid sportsman

in the world with an income of $ 80 ,

million of which 53 million was in

salary and bonuses, according to the

ranking published by Forbes magazine

in June .

His great rival , Real Madrid ’s Cristiano

Ronaldo of Portugal, topped the

ranking with $ 93 million , of which 58

million was in salary and bonuses,

ahead of American basketball player

LeBron James ($ 86 , 2 million of which

31 ,2 million in salary and bonuses).

Source AFP