Messi overtakes Ronaldo as highest-paid player in Europe with new Barcelona deal
Lionel Messi is now the highest-paid footballer in Europe, after he penned a
contract extension with Barcelona until 2021.
Details of his new deal, shows that the Argentina captain will now earn £500,000-a-week after tax at the Nou Camp.
Messi was earning £350,000-a-week, but the club offered him an increase of 37%, as they sought to tie the 30-year-old down.
The new agreement represents a huge pay rise, which takes him above Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest-paid player in Europe. Ronaldo signed a new contract with Real Madrid in November 2016 and earns £365,000-a-week terms.
Messi’s new contract also sees his release clause rising to a massive £350million.
He been at Barcelona since he was 13 and finished last season as La Liga’s top scorer with 37 goals in 34 games.
