Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Spanish clubside FC Barcelona until 2021, the Liga leaders confirmed on Saturday.

This ended speculation that the five-times World Player of the Year could leave the club he has spent his entire career for free next June. “The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (626.25 million pounds).

Messi leads the scoring charts in La Liga with 12 goals and on Friday picked up the 2017 European Sports Media Golden Shoe.