Barcelona will offer Lionel Messi a 'lifetime contract', insists CEO Oscar Grau

Club captain Andres Iniesta recently signed the first lifetime contract with Barca and it seems Messi could be about to follow suit.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the group D Champions League soccer match between FC Barcelona and Olympiakos at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Barcelona will offer Lionel Messi a lifetime contract at the club, CEO Oscar Grau said on Saturday.

Messi, 30, agreed a four-year deal with Barcelona in July, although has not officially signed it yet.

Grau, speaking at the club's annual general meeting, said the Argentine forward would be offered a similar deal to the one Barca's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta signed this month.

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"Messi signed a four-year deal in June, but the club will offer him a lifetime contract," Grau told club members.

"The idea is for Leo, who has been here since he was little, to stay here for life, as he is an icon. After he finishes playing we want him to remain linked to the club."

Messi is one of the most decorated players in Barcelona history, winning 30 trophies so far, including eight Primera Liga titles, five Copa del Reys, four Uefa Champions League titles, and three Fifa Club World Cups.

A five-time world player of the year, Messi has scored 521 goals, including 29 hat-tricks, and produced 233 assists since making his first-team debut 13 years ago.