Barcelona have announced that Lionel Messi has agreed to sign a new contract with the Spanish giants.

Doubts over the prolific forward's future have arisen over the course of the season due to a perceived lack of effort during a difficult season for the Catalan club.

Earlier this month, rumours rumbled suggesting that now-Premier League champions Manchester City were preparing to lodge a £165m bid for the Argentina international.

However, the club have ended speculation by announcing that the 26-year-old will extend his stay at Camp Nou in the coming days.

The former Ballon d'Or winner was already tied down to the club until 2018, but the improved terms will make Messi the highest-paid player in the world, surpassing the wages of his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.