Lionel
Messi has agreed on a new contract with Barcelona that will run till 2018.
The Catalan giants confirmed on their official website the
Argentinian would pen the deal "in the coming weeks". Barça also
revealed Xavi and Carles
Puyol had agreed extensions until 2016.
Messi's current deal runs until June 2016 and the new
agreement will keep him at the Nou Camp till june 30 2018.
The forward has enjoyed an extraordinary year, even by his
own remarkable standards, netting his 89th and 90th goals of 2012 at the
weekend.
He is also in contention to claim a fourth successive FIFA
Ballon d'Or crown, being named on a three-man shortlist alongside Cristiano
Ronaldo and team-mate Andres Iniesta.
Defender Puyol's contract was due to expire at the end of
the season, while midfielder Xavi's
ran out the following summer.















