Messi signs new deal until 2021

[Don Sholeone]

With a buy out clause of 700m

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42123022

Looks like he will end his career at Barcelona.

The guys is going to go down in history as one of the best no matter what, but I find it slightly disappointing hes never shown any real interest in playing in other leagues and think it could be one blemish on his legacy as a player along with the lack of a major international honour.

There will always be the fact he's played for the best team of his era for his whole career without really testing his ability to its limits elsewhere, think Ronaldo is going to pip him at the end of their careers for the fact he's played in 3 different countries and had a euro championship medal.

[Double Agent Bruce a.k.a DAB]

Is this mean he won't come here?

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See if we can up our January budget to 700m

[bodacious benny]

I wouldn't say that it's a blemish staying with Barcelona for his entire career. He's regularly delivered in the CL against teams from other leagues, him actually playing in those leagues make no difference to his legacy.

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I wouldn't say that it's a blemish staying with Barcelona for his entire career. He's regularly delivered in the CL against teams from other leagues, him actually playing in those leagues make no difference to his legacy.

True. I don't think you can hold that against him when comparing the two, where else could he realistically have gone? I'm sure if Ronaldo had started his career at Madrid he wouldn't have left.

[Blue & Maroon]

Don't care that he hasn't won an international trophy, it's not the pinnacle of footballing achievement or quality and don't care that he hasn't played in another league as he regularly rips teams apart in the Champions League. He's the best, ever.

[yoshiyella@St James' Park]

He is certainly not the best ever. Maradona is still leagues above him.

[Sir Bobby]

He is certainly not the best ever. Maradona is still leagues above him.

Really...? “Leagues above him”? Have a word

[Blue & Maroon]

He is certainly not the best ever. Maradona is still leagues above him.

Messi has already played more games and scored more goals than him. He's also played in a strong league for most of his career and doesn't pop steroids like they're smints.

[Don Sholeone]

There is no denying his talent but I would have liked to see how he would cope in a different environment, somewhere that didn't have the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez around him.

[The Deluded Pablo Diego Jose Francisco]

There is no denying his talent but I would have liked to see how he would cope in a different environment, somewhere that didn't have the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez around him.

Like us

But seriously, even if he was in a different league he'd still be surrounded by world class players that would be on the same level as Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar and Suarez.

[Don Sholeone]

There is no denying his talent but I would have liked to see how he would cope in a different environment, somewhere that didn't have the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez around him.

Like us

But seriously, even if he was in a different league he'd still be surrounded by world class players that would be on the same level as Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar and Suarez.

I honestly think Barca and Real are miles ahead of most in terms of quality of individual players, I don't think the top 4 or even Bayern or PSG are a match on a player by player basis than those 2.

[overseasTOON]

Unless Stoke have a miracle we'll never know how good Messi can be. On a Wednesday. In the cold. When it's raining.

[yoshiyella@St James' Park]

He is certainly not the best ever. Maradona is still leagues above him.

Messi has already played more games and scored more goals than him. He's also played in a strong league for most of his career and doesn't pop steroids like they're smints.

Hmm, Maradona did it in Spain, Italy and on the international front. Just because he played less and scored less doesn't mean to say he is worse than Messi.

Maradona was on a different planet to anyone else.

[yoshiyella@St James' Park]

Messi has already played more games and scored more goals than him. He's also played in a strong league for most of his career and doesn't pop steroids like they're smints.

Hmm, Maradona did it in Spain, Italy and on the international front. Just because he played less and scored less doesn't mean to say he is worse than Messi.

Maradona was on a different planet to anyone else.

Also would add that in the team that Messi has played in for the last 10 years even Riviere and Joselu would get into double figures.

[The Deluded Pablo Diego Jose Francisco]

Messi has already played more games and scored more goals than him. He's also played in a strong league for most of his career and doesn't pop steroids like they're smints.

Hmm, Maradona did it in Spain, Italy and on the international front. Just because he played less and scored less doesn't mean to say he is worse than Messi.

Maradona was on a different planet to anyone else.

No he didn't. He only became a world class player when he went to Napoli.

[Blue & Maroon]

Messi has already played more games and scored more goals than him. He's also played in a strong league for most of his career and doesn't pop steroids like they're smints.

Hmm, Maradona did it in Spain, Italy and on the international front. Just because he played less and scored less doesn't mean to say he is worse than Messi.

Maradona was on a different planet to anyone else.

He played for quiet some time in Argentina.