Lionel Messi

This Sunday's edition of the newspaper El Mundo exclusively unveils Leo Messi's contract with FC Barcelona. The contract dates to 2017, covering four seasons for a total of 555 million euros and it is "the sum of a fixed salary, image rights, a series of multi-million euro bonuses unheard of to date, allowances and a string of variables depending on various objectives".

According to the newspaper, Messi has already secured 92% of the contract, despite the team's setbacks in the Champions League's recent seasons, the competition that has the highest bonuses.

Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document".

France Football announced Monday its all-time Ballon d'Or soccer Dream Team after voting by 140 journalists:

• Lev Yashin
• Cafú
• Paolo Maldini
• Franz Beckenbauer
• Lothar Matthäus
• Xavi
• Diego Maradona
• Pelé
• Messi
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Ronaldo

After earning $126 million in 2020, the Argentinean player Lionel Messi became the fourth athlete to reach a career total of $1 billion in pretax earnings. Before Messi, only golf legend Tiger Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Cristiano Ronaldo had reached the same milestone.

In 2020 Messi had $92 million paid to him as salary and $34 million from endorsements.

The sports journalist and insider Fabrizio Romano has announced that Lionel Messi will stay with the FC Barcelona for the 2021 season as he did not want to get "into a legal dispute".

Following a quote of Messi that he published he soccer player stated that "the management of the club led by Bartomeu is a disaster".

LaLiga has stated that Lionel Messi will not be released of his contract with the FC Barcelona without paying €700 million as defined in his contract clause.

Messi has stated that he considers his contract the be expired and did not show up for the mandatory Covid-19 test of the FC Barcelona.

According to LaLiga "the contract is currently in force and has a 'termination clause' applicable in the event that Lionel Andrés Messi decides to request the unilateral early termination of the contract, carried out in accordance with article 16 of Royal Decree 1006/1985, of June 26, 1985, which regulates the special labour relationship of professional sportsmen and women".

Lionel Messi informed Barcelona his desire to leave the club after nearly two decades. The club confirmed to multiple outlets they received a document via burofax, a service used in Spain to urgently dispatch a document that requires proof to third parties.

Messi used a a clause in the contract that should oblige Barcelona to let him leave for free, but the divorce between Barcelona and their biggest idol could turn into a legal battle as the club stated it won’t automatically grant the Argentinean great his wishes as the club believes that the particular clause expired at the start of the summer.

Barcelona and Bayern advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals. Both clubs head to Lisbon to play each other on August 14 at the Estádio da Luz.

Playing at the Camp Nou, Barcelona qualified with a 3:1 win over Napoli, goals by Lenglet, Messi and Luis Suárez. Lorenzo Insigne scored for Napoli.

In Munich, Bayern confirmed their favouritism by beating Chelsea 4:1. Robert Lewandowski scored twice and created goals for Perisic and Tolisso.

Tennis icon Roger Federer tops the "World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes" list by Forbes, after earning $106.3 million - $100 million from endorsements - during the past 12 months.

Following the Swiss tennis player on the top of the list: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and LeBron James.