Last Updated: Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:35
Barcelona's Lionel Messi has signed an extended deal with the Spanish giants committing himself to the club until June 2018.
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner had already spoken with the Catalan club in December and agreed in principle a deal that would be signed in the New Year.
He returned back to Barcelona today after playing 90 minutes in Argentina's 3-2 win over Sweden and the forward put pen to paper.
The 25-year-old has followed team-mates Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol who also agreed new terms with the club over the last month.
"This afternoon Leo Messi extended his contract with FC Barcelona through June 30 of 2018," read a statement on the club's official website.
"The signing ceremony was attended by the player, president Sandro Rosell, vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta."
Messi has scored 34 goals in all competitions for the club this season and has helped Tito Villanova to almost guarantee the title in his first term in charge, with Barcelona holding a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
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