Neymar tells Barcelona to secure Lionel Messi's future by renewing his contract

Barcelona forward Neymar has urged the club to secure Lionel Messi's future by handing him a new contract. The Argentine international's contract runs down in 2018 and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is yet to put pen to paper.

The Brazil international has joined Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic in signing new deals with the La Liga giants. Messi and Andres Iniesta, who also has over one year left in his contract, are yet to commit their futures.

Technical secretary Robert Fernandez revealed in April that he remains hopeful that the club's star player and the World Cup winner with Spain would commit their futures to the Catalan club. However, the duo are yet to sign an extension and will have only one year left on this current deal in the summer.

"I have been here with Leo for four years, and I am learning every day: how to strike the ball, how to be alert during matches... Messi is from another planet," Neymar told beIN Sports, as quoted by the Spanish publication AS.

"I hope that he renews, and that the people at Barcelona get to work so Leo [Messi] can continue with us."

According to another report from AS, Messi will renew his deal with his current employers until 2022. The contract extension will see him earn a net wage of €30m (£25.3m, $32.7m) per year and will have a €250m (£210.2m, $272.4m) release clause in his contract.

Barcelona are leading the La Liga table with 84 points after 36 games. They are level on points with second place Real Madrid with goal difference separating the two sides. However, the Spanish capital club have an advantage of a game in hand.

Luis Enrique saw his side register a 3-2 victory over Real in the last El Clasico and that saw them reduce the gap at the top. Neymar, who was suspended for the clash, expressed his disappointment over not being involved in the fixture that saw Messi score the winner.

"It was the best image of the Clásico, something to go down in history. I was really looking forward to playing. After the game I called Messi, and they [the team] took photos while we spoke," Neymar explained.