Lionel Messi has signed a new five-year deal with Barcelona that would last till 2021. Messi’s previous deal was scheduled to end in the summer of 2018.
The striker, who joined Barcelona at age 13, will sign the deal when he returns to training from a pre-season. The Argentine has scored a club record of 507 goals from 583 matches since his competitive debut in 2014. Messi, who is currently on honeymoon, is also La Liga’s record scorer on 249 goals.
The striker had been previously linked with a move to Manchester City, but his new contract ties him to the club until he is 34.
In Tennis, two-time Men’s champion, Rafael Nadal, returned to the Centre Court, with a 6-4,6-2,7-5 over Donald Young to reach the third round at Wimbledon. Nadal will face Russia’s 30th seed Karen Khachanov on Friday, July 7, 2017.
Two-time semi-finalist Jo-Wilfred Tsonga needed less than two hours to beat Italy’s Simeon Bolelli 6-1, 7-5, 6-2. Tsonga faces America’s Sam Querrey in third round, after the 24th seed saw off Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvlli 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
World number one Andy Murray and Johanna Konta both won on Centre Court as four British players reached the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in 20 years. Konta beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 in three hours, 10 minutes.
Andy Murray then beat Dustin Brown of Germany, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Murray moves on to a testing third round clash with Italy’s 28th seed Fabio Fognini on Friday.
In the Women’s Single, two-time champion Petra Kvitoya had an upset as she was eliminated in the second round by American Madison Brengle, 1-6, 6-1, 2-6 on Court Two.
The American had never won a single game at Wimbledon before this year, and is ranked 95th in the world.
Venus Williams, 37, lost the first set before defeating world number 55 Wang Qiang 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to move into the last 32.
Former world number one, Victoria Azarenka, reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over 15th seed Elena Vesnina. Azarenka, 27, is playing only her second tournament of 2017, after giving birth to her son Leo in December.
By Felix Simire
