Messi

This Sunday’s El Clasico will be played without either of the superstars Ronaldo and Messi for the first time in a long time but the La Liga organizers are confident of continuing the legacy.

The former Barcelona ace was presented with PSG's other four summer signings Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Achraf Hakimi in a welcome ceremony at the centre of the pitch just one hour before the kick-off.

"This is very difficult, I was not prepared for this. Last year I was convinced to leave, but this year we were, my family and I wanted to continue here, in our house," Goal.com quoted Messi as saying.

He is leaving after 17 successful seasons in which he propelled the Catalan club to glory, helping it win numerous domestic and international titles since debuting as a teenager.

Messi posted a photo of himself with the Copa America title after Argentina outclassed Brazil in the finals earlier this month. As a result of winning Copa America, Messi recorded his first international title with Argentina.

The message, posted on social media, came less than a day after the Albiceleste beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, ending Argentina's 28-year wait for a major trophy on Sunday.

He might not have scored in the finals of Copa America but Messi was in red hot form in the ongoing tournament having scored the joint highest four goals in Copa America 2021.

Barcelona was hopeful of renewing Messi's contract before the June 30 deadline, however it has not been yet and as a result, the 34-year-old is now officially a free agent, reported Goal.com.

Messi leads the Copa America scoring list with three goals in four matches.

Messi, who turns 34 this month, might have one of his final chances of winning a title with Argentina at the Copa America.

The 36-year-old Chhetri has brushed aside any comparison with Messi whom he has overtaken to be the second highest international goal-scorer among active players.

Maradona died on November 25 in Buenos Aires after cardiac arrest.

The Argentine playmaker has 21 league goals, three more than Atlético's Luis Suárez at the top of the scoring list.

Barcelona's sixth league win in a row lifted it back into second place at seven points behind Spanish league leader Atlético Madrid, which has two more games to play.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Messi would receive a maximum of 55,52,37,619 euros ($67,39,19,105) over four seasons, if a series of conditions were met.