Messi agrees new deal

Lionel Messi, Xavi and Carles Puyol have agreed extensions to their Barcelona contracts, Camp Nou officials have said.

The Catalans - quoted at 1/25 with bet365 in the La Liga outright market - revealed on Tuesday that Argentina superstar Messi had committed his future to the club until 2018 and would sign "in the coming weeks". The 25-year-old netted his 89th and 90th goals of 2012 against Atletico Madrid on Saturday having already surpassed Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year. Messi is in contention to claim a fourth successive FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy, being named on a three-man shortlist alongside Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca team-mate Andres Iniesta. Spain defender and Camp Nou stalwart Puyol, 34, has agreed a new contract to stay with Barca until the summer of 2016, while countryman Xavi, 32, has also had his contract extended until the summer of 2016.

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