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Messi's renewal not a major Barcelona concern

Messi's renewal with Barcelona was only the sixth biggest concern for the club's members in December, according to the Observatori Azulgrana (behind issues such as the new ground and the legal scandals) in sharp contrast to the utter dependency the first XI have on the star Argentinean striker. For example: in the 28 games Barcelona have played this year, Messi has scored or assisted in 22 of them, 78.57% of them.

Full screen Messi scores, again, against Eibar. David Ramos (Getty Images)

Messi scoring for Barcelona

Messi has only not been involved in the goals in LaLiga against Athletic, Alavés, Atlético, Granada and Real Madrid. The Argentinean, whose contract finishes at Barcelona in June 2018, has scored 15 goals (with just Luis Suárez ahead of him in the race for the Pichichi top-scorer title) in the league.

In the Champions League, Messi has played five matches (he missed the game against Moenchengladbach with injury) and has scored in all of them. He's on 10 already, with two hat-tricks, against Celtic and Manchester City, and a brace (in Glasgow). He's also provided two.

Messi in the Copa del Rey

In the games he's played in the Copa del Rey, he's only not been involved with a goal in the first leg against Real Sociedad. In the other three games (two against Athletic and one against Real Sociedad) he's scored three and assisted for two.

Messi's renewal should maybe be a concern for Barça

And in the Spanish SuperCup, against Sevilla, played back in August, he set up one in the Sánchez Pizjuán and scored (a header), and assisted for one in the Camp Nou. In total Messi has played 28 games and scored 29 goals, with 12 assists. Numbers that might make the Barcelona members think his contract renewal is just about the most important concern at the club right now.