Lionel Messi is the world champion. He won the only remaining trophy for which he fought for almost his entire career. He made it in Qatar and is now finally ‘immortal’. From the first day, he was maximally focused on making his people proud, on fulfilling his greatest wish and becoming the icon of the nation after Diego Maradona.During these months, there was nothing else in Lionel Messi’s mind but the World Cup. Everything else was frozen stiff, among other things, negotiations on a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain, which after the celebration in Buenos Aires and a short break, will again become a current topic when he returns to Paris.This was confirmed by the first man of PSG Nasser Al Khelaifi during the World Cup in his native country. He said that he agreed with Messi to sit down at the table after the competition and see if they can find a common language regarding the new contract.##NAJAVA_MECA_6900593##Now as world champion, Messi has all the time in the world to think things through and choose the future he wants. He no longer has anyone to prove himself to – maybe he will fulfill his wish and play in the MLS that attracts him so much…In Paris, they are not sitting idly, they have used the World Cup break to prepare a good strategy to persuade Messi to stay. His current contract expires in the summer, he has not yet said that he wants to leave or stay, but at PSG they leave nothing to chance. Al Khelaifi entrusted the most important task to technical adviser Luis Campos, who has sat down with Messi several times in recent months to discuss the extension. When he asked to focus on the World Cup, Campos let him go and now he has a clear outline from the club’s leaders on what is required and what the idea is.PSG will not care how much money it will take, regardless of the fact that Messi turns 36 in June. The club gambled a lot when they brought him and gave him 40,000,000 euros a year, now that it is clear that he still has the strength and enthusiasm to be clutch on the biggest stage, he will probably be offered the same financial conditions. Two variants of the contract will be presented to the Argentine. The first for a year, plus an additional year, the second for two guaranteed seasons. This means that at the end of the cooperation, he would be 38 years of age.PSG are confident Lionel Messi will extend his contract. There is already a +1 option but the club want a new 1+1 deal. Messi and PSG always only planned to start talks after the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/qaH3PDIi2h— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 19, 2022 While there is optimism among the Qatari owners that the negotiations will end positively, reputable media around the world do not give up on the idea that Messi will put an end to his European adventure in the summer of 2023 and really decide to move to MLS. Everything is explained by the fact that Messi no longer has anyone to prove himself to and that he can now enjoy a golden retirement playing football for himself only. Most likely enjoying the Miami sun.On the other hand, it is completely clear that by going to the other side of the Atlantic, the Argentine would be left without the opportunity to continue writing the history of the best world football. Many believe that Messi is very close to winning the eighth Ballon d’Or after what happened on Sunday, which would definitely cement his position at the top of the list of the best footballers of all time. With PSG, he has a chance to win his fifth Champions League and another Ligue 1 title, but of course after the World Cup success, it is hard to find the motivation.There are signals coming from his surroundings that he is in no hurry to make a final decision, no matter how much Al Khelaifi insists on securing it as soon as possible. He managed to convince Kylian Mbappe, he believes he could do Messi long before the season is over.##EDITORS_CHOICE##There is a belief that his next selection could be significantly conditioned by the decision to stay in the jersey of the Argentina national team. Although many believed that he would say goodbye to Albiceleste with the title of world champion, he declared after the final that he now wants to play football as the ruler of the football planet. He does not believe that he will defend the title in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico, although the people, teammates and coach Lionel Scalloni want it and do not hide it. Scaloni even said that “the no.10 will be waiting” for Messi if he decides to play in 2026. His main goal is to defend the South American throne in 2024.All eyes are on Lionel Messi…
