Lionel Messi Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Lionel Messi’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $850 million, Lionel Messi, a professional athlete from Argentina, is often hailed as the greatest soccer player globally and one of the best throughout history. He undoubtedly ranks as either THE or one of the highest-paid players in the sport’s history. From his teenage years until 2021, Messi played for Barcelona, where he netted 672 goals across 778 matches. It was announced on August 10, 2021, that he would be transferring to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona. Additionally, he represents the Argentina National Team. On December 18, 2022, he celebrated with the Argentina National Team, having won the World Cup.

It’s reasonable to assert that Messi is perhaps the highest-paid soccer player in the world and undoubtedly among the top-earning athletes overall. His groundbreaking contract with Barcelona in 2017 provided him with an average base annual salary of $168 million. Furthermore, he typically earns about $70 million per year from endorsements, which brought his total annual earnings to roughly $200 million under that contract. On June 7, 2023, Messi revealed his decision to join David Beckham’s MLS club, Inter Miami, under a unique arrangement that incorporates a revenue-sharing model for subscriptions from Apple’s MLS coverage, along with a stake in team ownership. More details on this contract will be discussed later in the article, but in summary, Lionel’s base salary with Inter Miami is set at $60 million, alongside a planned 10% ownership of the team at the conclusion of his contract. If the team’s value holds steady after his retirement, that 10% could potentially be valued at $200 million or more.

Contrary to what some less reputable sources might claim, Lionel Messi is NOT A BILLIONAIRE. By the end of his contract with Barcelona, including endorsements, he had accrued over $1.6 billion. As we calculate it, his career earnings comprise around $1.2 billion in salary and $400 million from endorsements. Some outlets misinterpreted the statistic that his total earnings surpassed $1 billion and inaccurately labeled him a “billionaire.”

Lionel Messi Salary and Contracts

During his prime years at Barcelona, Messi was undoubtedly the highest-paid soccer player globally. He signed a contract in 2017 that afforded him a base salary of $168 million. Initially, the financial specifics of his contract were closely guarded, but in January 2021, the Spanish publication “El Mundo” leaked the contract’s details. Prior to this, his yearly base salary was reported at $44.68 million under an earlier contract.

Manti, in August 2021, joined Paris Saint-Germain through an initial two-year contract valued at $75 million annually before taxes, equating to around $40 million after tax deductions. Additionally, this contract enabled Messi to receive bonuses based on performance milestones and a share of jersey sales.

He further supplements his income with an extra $70 million yearly from endorsements and maintains a lifetime endorsement agreement with Adidas.

$1 Billion Saudi Contract

Reports in May 2023 indicated that Messi was nearing the signing of a $1 billion deal with an unidentified team from the Saudi Pro League. The agreement would

It has been reported that Lionel could potentially earn a salary of $400 MILLION per season. Should this be accurate, such an annual payment would almost double the 2.5-year, $535 million deal accepted by Cristiano Ronaldo in December 2022 with Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr. Ultimately, Lionel turned down this proposition and signed with David Beckham’s MLS club, Inter Miami.

Inter Miami

On June 7, 2023, news emerged indicating Messi’s intention to join Inter Miami, the MLS franchise co-owned by David Beckham. The deal was reportedly worth $1.03 million per week, totaling $54 million annually over a span of four years. Interestingly, Messi’s contract with Miami includes revenue sharing from Apple’s subscriptions for the MLS Season Pass. Further revelations showed that Lionel’s contract with Inter Miami offers him a salary of $60 million per year and a 10% ownership stake in the team, which has been valued at up to $2 billion.

Adidas Endorsement

As one of the most recognizable athletes globally, Messi has been associated with Adidas since 2006 and stands as their leading brand ambassador. Initially, he had a contract with Nike at the age of 14 but later opted for Adidas. By 2008, Messi launched a long-running signature line of Adidas footwear and established his sub-brand known as Adidas Messi.

Visit Saudi Endorsement Deal

A contract that surfaced in June 2023 shows that Lionel entered a three-year agreement back in January 2021 to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia for a potential payout of $25 million. The contract stipulates the following requirements from Lionel:

• #1) He must take an annual vacation to Saudi Arabia, bringing up to 20 friends. All expenses, including travel and luxurious accommodations, are covered. The duration of the vacation must be at least five days.
• #2) He is required to create ten social media posts each year promoting Saudi Arabia, using kingdom-approved hashtags.
• #3) He must partake in an annual tourism advertisement campaign, which previously entailed appearing in a promotional video for Visit Saudi.

For fulfilling obligations #2 and #3, Lionel earns $2 million for each task annually. Additionally, he can earn another $2 million per year for engaging in “charitable work.”

In total, Lionel can accumulate $25 million over three years for relatively minimal effort. However, the contract includes a stipulation: As per the document reviewed by the Times, Lionel “cannot say anything that might ‘tarnish’ Saudi Arabia.”

Early Life

Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, on June 24, 1987. His father, Jorge Horacio Messi, worked as a factory steelworker, while his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, held a part-time cleaning job. He shares a close bond with his two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, as well as his sister, Maria Sol. Growing up, the family often played soccer together with their cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom later pursued professional football careers. At merely six years old, Messi joined the Rosario soccer club, playing for Newell’s Old Boys.

At the age of ten, Lionel was identified as having a growth hormone deficiency, and his father’s financial situation made it difficult for him to pay for the necessary medical treatment. Although Newell’s agreed to help with the costs, they later withdrew their support. Carles Rexach, the Sporting Director of FC Barcelona, proposed to cover the medical expenses if Messi could relocate to Spain. With Lionel’s father consenting, Rexach quickly drafted a contract on a napkin, leading the family to move to Barcelona in February 2001. They settled into an apartment close to Camp Nou, the stadium of the club. After Messi’s mother and siblings returned to Rosario, he experienced homesickness while remaining in Barcelona with his father. A year later, Messi joined the Royal Spanish Football Federation and became part of the “Baby Dream Team,” renowned for being one of Barcelona’s most exceptional young soccer player collections.

Career

Making his league debut at 17, Lionel faced RCD Espanyol, marking him as the third-youngest player to represent FC Barcelona. Additionally, he became the youngest player in Barcelona’s history to score a goal. In the 2005-2006 season, Messi started receiving wages as a first-team player and acquired his Spanish citizenship. He also participated in a match in the Spanish First Division league. During his first match, after scoring alongside superstar Ronaldinho, he received a standing ovation. Messi made six goals in seventeen league appearances and scored once in six Champions League matches. In 2006, he achieved the milestone of being the youngest Argentine to play and score in the FIFA World Cup.

Following the World Cup, during the 2006-2007 season, Messi sustained a broken metatarsal injury that required three months of recovery. He returned to the field as a substitute against Racing Santander. In March, Messi scored a hat trick against Real Madrid, becoming the first player since Ivan Zamorano to accomplish this in the El Clasico. Throughout the 2007-2008 season, Messi propelled Barcelona into the upper echelons of La Liga. He received a nomination for the FIFA ProWorld XI Player Award as a forward, and Marca recognized him as the world’s best player. Numerous other publications echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Lionel deserved the Ballon d’Or. At the age of 22, he finally secured his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 and went on to achieve three consecutive wins each year thereafter. Additionally, he captured an Olympic Gold Medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Records for most goals scored in a single La Liga and European season were set by him in 2012, solidifying his status as Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. In the subsequent two seasons, Messi, who had taken on the role of team captain, came second for the Ballon d’Or behind his career rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Leading Argentina to the World Cup finals in 2014, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball. Although he announced his retirement in 2016, he later reversed his decision and guided Argentina to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, finishing third at the 2019 Copa America. In 2019, Messi achieved an unprecedented sixth Ballon d’Or.

2022 World Cup

On December 18, Lionel and his teammates from Argentina triumphed over France in the 2022 World Cup final. Without considering penalty kicks, Lionel scored two goals during the game, which extended into overtime and subsequently a shootout.

Charity

The Leo Messi Foundation, founded by Messi, focuses on creating better educational and healthcare opportunities for underprivileged children. This charity was initiated in 2007 after Messi’s transformative visit to a Boston children’s hospital. With assistance from Herbalife, his foundation covers medical treatments, transportation, and recuperation for children facing serious health issues. Additionally, since March 2010, Messi holds the title of Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, having traveled to Haiti on a field mission to raise awareness of the challenges faced by children in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

Furthermore, Messi engages in individual fundraising efforts, including global football matches, contributing to various charities. He provides financial backing to numerous youth football clubs in Argentina such as Sarmiento, Rosario Central, Newell’s, River Plate, and Boca Junior. In 2012, Messi financed the construction of a new gym and dormitory at his childhood club, Newell’s. His former coach from there now works as a talent scout for young players under the Messi Foundation.

In March 2020, a $1 million donation was made by Messi to aid in combating the spread of coronavirus. Moreover, Messi and his Barcelona Football Club teammates agreed to a 70 percent salary reduction during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure that no workers at Barcelona would have their wages reduced amidst the global turmoil.

Personal Life

Since 2008, Messi has been in a relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo, who is also from Rosario. Their relationship dates back to when they were five years old, and they made their romance public in January 2009. Messi and Roccuzzo tied the knot in Rosario in June 2007. Together, they have three children: Thiago (born 2012), Matero (born 2015), and Ciro (born 2018). Lionel maintains a strong bond with his family, particularly his mother, whose face he has tattooed on his left shoulder. His professional affairs are predominantly managed as a family business, with his father acting as his agent since Messi was 14 years old, and his older brother Rodrigo managing his publicity.

Real Estate

Messi acquired a house in the Pedrables neighborhood of Barcelona for $2 million in 2009. Afterward, he invested millions in renovations and improvements, with the home now valued at approximately $7 – $10 million.

In November 2019, he purchased a $5 million condo in Miami. Subsequently, in April 2021, Messi spent $7.3 million on the entirety of the ninth floor of yet another building in Miami.