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Barcelona, Dec 2 (DPA) Young Argentine striker Lionel Messi is getting ever closer to world star status, and Barcelona is set to offer him a more generous contract in an effort to keep him in the club.
'Messi gets megastar salary,' said Spanish sports daily Marca.
The newspaper said the 19-year-old Argentine international will shortly sign a new contract with his current club Barcelona, for a total of 50 million euros ($66 million) over eight years.
Marca explained that Messi's annual salary would rise gradually to reach eight million euros ($10.6 million) in the 2013-14 season, when the contract is to expire.
However, it appears likely that by then it will have be subjected to further revisions, since the striker has already signed three contracts in two seasons.
Marca added that Messi - a new advertising icon - will retain the right over his own image, and that the cost of unilaterally breaking the contract will be 150 million euros (almost $200 million).
If the new contract is confirmed, Messi will acquire the financial status of other Barcelona stars like the Mexican Rafael Marquez or the Portuguese Deco.
However, Brazilian star Ronaldinho continues to lead the pack. Barcelona's best-paid player is also awaiting an improved contract at the club, as are Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and the Spaniard Andres Iniesta, according to Spanish media.
Barcelona is thus moving to curb the possible loss of key players in a successful team that has won the last two editions of Spain's Liga and is the defending champion of the UEFA Champions League.
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