A tearful Lionel Messi confirmed he was leaving fc barcelona after the club said it could no longer afford paying its argentine talisman's high wages without jeopardising its future.

The 34-year-old, who has been at the club for 21 years, becoming its all-time goalscorer with 682, broke down in tears before giving a speech and was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation from the media, current and former team mates and coaches in attendance.

Messi did not say what his immediate plans were, but after french newspaper l'equipe reported that he was set to join paris st germain after their manager mauricio pochettino told reporters that messi was an "option".

He confirmed that it was "a possibility" but insisted that at this moment he has not agreed a move anywhere.