Messi s future uncertain as Barcelona contract ends

Argentine Superstar Lionel Messi s contract with Spanish giant Barcelona ended on Wednesday with no news from the player or the club about his future.

The expectation is that the 34-year-old Messi_ who is playing for Argentina at the Copa America_ will stay at the Catalan club. He had reportedly been close to reaching a deal to extend his contract for two more years.

Messi s future has been a mystery since his request to leave the club was denied at the end of the 2019-2020 season. He ended up staying and said he would reconsider his options when this season was over.

A lot has changed since he announced he wanted to leave the club. That decision was made not long after the team s embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League_ one of the worst defeats in the club s history.

But_ since then_ Barcelona has a new coach in Ronald Koeman and a new president after the resignation of Josep Bartomeu_ who was at odds with Messi.

In came Joan Laporta_ who won the club s presidential election in part because of his good relationship with the Argentina star. He was the president when Messi s career started. Laporta said recently he was optimistic that Messi would renew his contract. When asked about Messi s future on Wednesday_ he briefly said  don t worry .

Messi excelled again this season despite staying against his wishes. He led the Spanish league in scoring with 30 goals and helped the team win the Copa del Rey title.

In Messi s previous contract_ signed in 2017_ he reportedly earned 138 million euros ($164m) per season.

Playing in Barcelona s favour to keep Messi is the fact the club has been slowly improving financially amid the coronavirus pandemic. Koeman is staying for a second season_ and some players are arriving to boost the squad_ including Memphis Depay_ Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia.

Messi has won 35 trophies in 17 seasons with Barcelona. He helped the club win the Champions League four times_ the Spanish league 10 times_ the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times.

While with the club_ Messi earned himself a record six Ballon d Or awards. He is the team s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances_ and the top scorer in the Spanish league with 474 goals in 520 matches. He also is the player with most matches with the club.

He was the top scorer in the Spanish league in eight seasons and the top scorer in the Champions League on six occasions. His 26 goals against Real Madrid are a record for the  clasico matches against Barcelona s fiercest rival.

Messi arrived at Barcelona at age 13_ when he and his family came to Spain to try his luck at the club s youth academy. He made his official debut on October 16_ 2004_ and two years later helped the club win its first Champions League in a squad led by Ronaldinho.