Six-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi, will end his 21-year career with Barcelona, although the Argentinean and the club had reached an agreement over a new contract.
The Spanish Giants announced that Messi would not be staying at Camp Nou because of "financial and structural obstacles".
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since July the first, when his old contract expired. Last month, Messi agreed in principle to a 5-year deal on reduced wages. However, the agreement failed to keep Barca within La Liga's Financial Fair Play regulations.
Messi is Barcelona's record scorer and top appearance-maker with 672 goals in 788 matches in all competitions.
He has won 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues and 7 Copa del Reys with the Catalans.
This is while, Messi has long been linked with a move to either Paris St-Germain or Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.