PSG to begin contract talks with Messi after World Cup, says president Al-Khelaifi

Argentine forward joined French giants on a two-year deal in 2021

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Argentina in their 2-1 World Cup last-16 win over Australia at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, on Sunday, December 3, 2022.

Lionel Messi puts Argentina into the lead. PA

Lionel Messi is mobbed by Argentina teammates after scoring. Getty

Harry Souttar of Australia battles for possession with Argentina's Julian Alvarez. Getty

Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. PA

Argentina's Lionel Messi scores in the first half. AP

Craig Goodwin scores for Australia, albeit via a huge deflection. PA

Australia's Milos Degenek after a first-half challenge. Reuters

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. Getty

Julian Alvarez scores Argentina's second goal. Getty

Australia manager Graham Arnold. PA

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring in the first half. Reuters

Australia's Craig Goodwin tees-up ahead of his deflected shot that pulled the score back to 2-1. Reuters

Argentina's Julian Alvarez takes the ball of Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan before making it 2-0. Getty

Australia's Aziz Behicc pulls the shirt of Lionel Messi. AP

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates after scoring. Getty

Australia's Craig Goodwin collects the ball after his deflected shot made it 2-1. Getty

Paris Saint-Germain will open talks with Lionel Messi over a contract extension after the World Cup, the club's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said.

Messi was in fine form for PSG ahead of the season break for the World Cup, with the Argentine forward scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions. It is a marked improvement on his debut campaign in Paris, having joined the Ligue 1 giants from Barcelona on a free transfer but was only able to score six goals during a season disrupted by injury.

Messi has carried his form over to the World Cup, where he has led Argentina into a quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands, scoring three goals in four games so far.

When asked if the 35-year-old superstar is interested in extending his stay in Paris, Al-Khelaifi told Sky Sports: "Definitely".

"He performed fantastic this season for us, he's scored a lot of goals and assists for the national team and for the club. So what we agreed together - that after the World Cup, sit down together. But both sides - our side of the club and him - are very happy, so we will talk after the World Cup."

Al-Khelaifi's words will be welcomed by PSG fans after speculation emerged that Messi could leave at the end of the season, with a move to MLS side Inter Miami strongly linked.

Another player out of contract this summer is Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who was previously linked with a move to PSG in the close season. Like Messi, Rashford is still involved in the World Cup as England prepare to face France in Saturday's quarter-final.

Al-Khelaifi said "every club" would be interested in signing the England international on a free transfer and that PSG had spoken to him previously.

"But the moment was not a good moment for both sides," he said. "Today if he's a free agent of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after in January, hopefully, if we're interested we will talk to him."