Lionel Messi will finally receive the final payment of his former Barcelona contract, with debt cleared after the end of a five-year deferral saga.

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Messi's €48m debt paid in fullBarca deferred wage payments across the clubCatalan giants were in financial turmoil in 2020Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

It has been four years since Messi departed his beloved Barcelona, but his former club will this this month pay off the last of their debts to their greatest ever player, according to in Spain. A final €5.96 million instalment of his contract will been paid, after almost €48m (£41m/$56m) of the Argentine's final deal with the Blaugrana was deferred back in 2020.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi was not the only player to be impacted by this deferral, which hit most of the squad and some other members of staff amidst Barca's deteriorating financial situation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The financial effects of this have been felt by the club for the years which have followed, but the chapter has come to a close with these final payments. Other whose contracts were deferred included Samuel Umtiti, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and former manager Ronald Koeman.

DID YOU KNOW?

Financial crisis hit one of the world's greatest clubs in 2020 under ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, with the Covid-19 pandemic uncovering and intensifying significantly a crisis which had been building after years of financial mismanagement. The problems have continued to hit the headlines in recent times, as Barca needed to battle the courts earlier this season in order to register new signings Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND BARCELONA?

Messi will face his other former club Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup round of 16 on Sunday, after the Argentine hero inspired current club Inter Miami to five points and qualification from the group stage.

Barca are not taking part in the competition, so preparations will be well underway for the 2025-26 season. The Spanish champions will feel that a weight has been lifted off their shoulders with financial debts finally paid to their former employees.