![]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBV9tjn.img?h=416&w=799&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f&x=915&y=268","size3column":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBV9tjn.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f&x=915&y=268","size2column":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBV9tjn.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f&x=915&y=268"} "VIDEO: Bondscoach Ronald Koeman adelt Barcelonas Lionel Messi - BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images")
This season will be the first where Lionel Messi assumes full duties of being captain of Barcelona after Andres Iniesta left the club.
The Argentina international become the best-paid player in La Liga last November by agreeing a new deal to extend his stay at Barcelona until 2021.
The Argentine’s existing contract was set to expire in the summer of 2018 and whether at Camp Nou or elsewhere, it was never in doubt that he would land a major pay day.
Despite a disappointing World Cup tournament where Argentina crashed out at the last-16 stage, Messi remains a talisman in Barcelona.