Lionel Messi has agreed a new contract with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until 2021, and will sign it on his return to Spain next week.

The Argentinean international has confirmed his intention to see out his European club career at the Nou Camp and will ink the £500k per week deal that will tie him to the Catalan giants until he is 34 - unless someone pays his £220m (€250m) release clause.

Messi made his Barcelona debut back in 2004 as a teenager but quickly rose to stardom, establishing himself as the best player in the world by 22. Messi remains the only player to have ever won five Ballon d'Or awards, four of which he won consecutively, and many consider Messi the greatest player of all time.

That was enough reason alone to make Messi the best-paid player in European football and the 30-year-old playmaker will continue at Barcelona before returning to Argentina to play for the club of his dreams, Newell's Old Boys.

Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Show all 5 1 /5 Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Ballon d'Or 2009-10 The dry years. There once was a time, a long time ago, when Lionel Messi wore conservative, moderate suits. Back in those dystopian times, the Argentinian superstar often elected to wear black as he conquered the footballing world, leaving the likes of previous winners Ronaldinho, Fabio Cannavaro and Kaka to a bygone era. Getty Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Ballon d'Or 2011 The world was given one of its first glimpses into the wonderful and labyrinthine wardrobe of Messi a year later. Having previously only seen the Argentinian in Barcelona tracksuits or traditional garb, this 2011 number was just the start of the forward’s reign of terror over the fashion world. Getty Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Ballon d'Or 2012 12 months later and Messi was ready to up his game even further. 2012 was the year of the polka dot as the Barcelona superstar made headlines around the globe again. Winning the award for the second successive year, Barca’s main man celebrated the occasion with a dark navy and white three-piece suit. Getty Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Ballon d'Or 2013 Peak Messi. It was only a few weeks since Christmas and the Argentina international clearly was still in the festive mood. Treating his adoring fans to a shimmering burgundy suit, members of the press on the red carpet had to shield their eyes as Messi strode to defeat, falling behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Getty Lionel Messi's best Ballon d'Or outfits Ballon d'Or 2014 Perhaps Leo’s most moderate effort since 2009, last year’s offering seemed a compromise for those who don’t appreciate his trend-setting ways. Again sporting a bow-tie, the Argentine superstar opted for purple as his colour of choice. One wonders if he randomly selects his palette with his eyes closed. Getty

Confirmation of Messi's commitment to Barcelona is welcome news to the club, just one year after he asked to join Manchester City. President Josep Bartomeu talked him round and convinced him to remain in La Liga, and after getting married in his hometown of Rosario last week, Messi will fly to Barcelona for pre-season next week and to formally put pen to paper on his new deal, as revealed by The Independent in June.

An official statement from Barcelona gushed:

"FC Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the Club until June 30th, 2021.

"The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training.

Messi's career in numbers

"The Club is very happy with both the renewal and the commitment of Messi, the best player in history, who has played his full professional career at Barça and has led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football.

"The Argentinian star joined Barça back in 2000 as a 13-year-old, arriving from Newell's Old Boys. After impressing throughout the various youth categories, he made his first team debut at just 16 years of age in a friendly against FC Porto, before making his debut the following season against Espanyol at 17. Shortly after, he scored his first senior goal with a clever lob against Albacete at the Camp Nou.

"The rest is history. Leo Messi has since gone on to break just about every record and has become the greatest player in the world. Now, at 30 years of age, Messi has completed 13 seasons with the first team and, with his new deal, will remain for a further four.

"Messi has racked up eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, five Copa del Rey, seven Spanish Super Cups, three European Super Cups and three Club World Cups. Individually, he has won the Ballon d’Or prize five times, more than any other Player in the history of the game, four Pichichi and four Golden Shoes.