Lionel Messi reportedly putting Paris Saint-Germain contract talks on hold until after World Cup

Superstar Lionel Messi was repeatedly linked with Major League Soccer and, specifically with Inter Miami last summer before Barcelona's financial troubles related to La Liga regulations caused him to become a free agent. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner ultimately put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain and, thus, needs to start thinking about his future beyond the upcoming season. 

It appears such discussions can wait. 

According to Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports News, Messi has informed Paris Saint-Germain he will not discuss an extension or a new deal with the French giants until after the fall World Cup held in Qatar so he can first concentrate on his form and fitness ahead of world football's biggest party. The 35-year-old is set to be out of contract next summer, but Paris Saint-Germain reportedly would like to extend his stay through the 2023-24 campaign.

Thomas notes that MLS remains an option for Messi, as does a Barcelona homecoming depending on the Catalan club's financial state roughly one year from now. Messi can open talks with clubs outside of France at the start of the new year in January. 

As Dylan Butler wrote for the MLS website back in June 2021, reports claimed at the time that Messi could be paid as much as $73 million per year as an Inter Miami player had he signed with them. It's unclear what his salary would be if he joined the Florida team in July 2023.