Lionel Messi is now worth a staggering £312 million

Barcelona, Dec 20: Lionel Messi is now worth a staggering £312 million, yes that's the amount of money potential suitors need to pay Barcelona to sign the Argentine sensation.

Messi, 25, has agreed to sign a contract extension with the Catalans which would keep him at the club until 2018.

Clubs eyeing a move for Messi need to shell out a fortune which includes £102m in wages and £210m to activate his buy-out clause. Cash-rich clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain would definitely back out.

The Barcelona forward recently broke Gerd Mueller's record of scoring the highest number of goals, 86, in a calendar year and has taken his tally to 90 so far.

Messi, the three-time World Player of the year, could become the only player to win the award four times after being shortlisted alongside closest rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Andres Iniesta.

The Argentine is the all-time leading goal-scorer for the club and has scored the highest number of goals in the league as a Barca player. Messi has netted the highest number of goals in a season and is the leading scorer in Europe for three consecutive seasons.

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