BARRIO – Lionel Messi has no intention of renewing his expiring contract with Paris Saint Germain, according to reports.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the Ligue 1 giants in the summer of 2021 after leaving boyhood club FC Barcelona.

That arrangement expires on June 30, with Messi’s future up in the air. While it was previously reported before the World Cup that Messi intended to extend terms at Paris Saint Germain, there have been rumours in recent weeks that nothing is certain.

According to FC Barcelona expert Gerard Romero, one of the top sources on Barca’s transfer dealings in the last summer window, Messi has no intention of renewing his PSG deal.

Winning the World Cup with Argentina has made the 35-year-old reluctant to do so, Romero claims, with Messi wishing to evaluate other things as per his next step.

Almost a fortnight ago, Mundo Deportivo broke the news that Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal were reporedly ready to offer Messi a mouthwatering deal of up to $350 million a year.

If this is accurate and Messi accepted a proposal from Al Hilal, he would become the world’s highest soccer player and eclipse generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo who will reportedly earn $210 million a year with Al Hilal’s rivals Al Nassr.

In 2022, Messi finished runner up in Forbes’ list of the world’s-highest paid soccer players due to earnings of $120 million – $65 million of which were made on-field and $55 million off-field.

Ronaldo was third on the list with $100 million ($40 million on-field, $60 million off-field), and Messi’s PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe clinched first place thanks to his lucrative contract extension with the club which brought him $128 million split into $110 million on-field and $18 millon off-field.

PSG were said to be ready to offer Messi €30mn ($32.5mn) a year to sign his own extension with them, but today’s news will be welcomed by Al Hilal, FC Barcelona and Inter Miami in the United States if true.