Football club Barcelona will take legal action against Spanish newspaper El Mundo for publishing details of Lionel Messi’s contract with the club. The leaked document says Messi’s contract is worth up to 555 million euros ($674) over four years.

“In view of the information published today in the newspaper El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties,” said Barcelona in a statement.

Although Barcelona did not claim responsibility for the leak, they did not deny the details.

“FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication,” the statement continued.

According to the Spanish publication, Messi’s contract is the largest in the history of sports and dubbed it as the “colossal contract that ruins Barcelona“.

The 33-year-old could end up collecting a maximum of 555,237,619 euros before it expires on June 30 this year, if all conditions were met.

With six months left of the deal to run, “the player has already earned 511,290,052 euros, almost 92% of the possible total”, the report claims.

The leak comes as Barcelona are wrestling with a dire financial situation, worsened by the pandemic.

“FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the club where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history.”

His club contract dwarfs those of the other top earners in global sport.