Lionel Messi Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Lionel Messi’s Net Worth?

Lionel Messi, a professional athlete hailing from Argentina, boasts a net worth estimated at $850 million. Widely considered the best soccer player globally and among the greatest in history, Messi is undoubtedly one of the highest-paid athletes to date. From his teenage years until 2021, he played for Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals across 778 matches. On August 10, 2021, it was confirmed that he would transition from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. Additionally, Messi represents the Argentina National Team, with which he celebrated a World Cup victory on December 18, 2022.

Messi is likely the world’s highest-paid soccer player and ranks among the most financially successful athletes globally. His groundbreaking 2017 contract with Barcelona provided him with an impressive average base annual salary of $168 million. Furthermore, he earns approximately $70 million each year through endorsements, resulting in earnings close to $200 million under that agreement. On June 7, 2023, Lionel revealed his decision to join the MLS team Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, under a distinctive arrangement that includes a profit-sharing clause from Apple’s MLS season coverage and a stake in the team. Details regarding this contract will be elaborated on later in this article; however, to summarize, Lionel’s base salary at Inter Miami is $60 million, and he will have a 10% ownership in the team once his contract concludes. This 10% stake could potentially hold a value of $200 million or more if the team continues to perform well following his retirement.

Contrary to some lesser-quality sources, it should be emphasized that Lionel Messi is NOT A BILLIONAIRE. By the end of his tenure at Barcelona, combining endorsements with his earnings, Lionel had amassed over $1.6 billion. As per our calculations, he has accrued approximately $1.2 billion in salary thus far and $400 million from endorsements. Some media outlets misinterpreted the statistic about his total earnings surpassing $1 billion, incorrectly labeling him a “billionaire.”

Lionel Messi Salary and Contracts

At his peak with Barcelona, Lionel Messi was clearly the highest-paid soccer player globally. In 2017, he entered into a contract with Barcelona that guaranteed him a base salary of $168 million. For several years, the details of his contract were kept confidential, but in January 2021, the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo” published the leaked contract details. Prior to this, under a previous agreement, his annual base salary was $44.68 million.

In August 2021, Messi signed with Paris Saint-Germain for an initial two-year deal valued at $75 million annually before taxes, equating to approximately $40 million after taxes. The contract also allowed him to receive bonuses based on performance milestones and a share of jersey sales.

Additionally, Messi accrues an extra $70 million each year from endorsements, which includes a lifetime partnership with Adidas.

$1 Billion Saudi Contract

In May 2023, reports emerged that Lionel Messi was close to finalizing a $1 billion contract with an undisclosed Saudi Pro League team. The agreement would

It’s reported that Lionel could be earning a salary of $400 MILLION each season. If this holds true, that yearly income would nearly double the 2.5-year contract valued at $535 million that Cristiano Ronaldo accepted from a Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr, in December 2022. Eventually, Lionel turned down this offer and opted instead to join David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami.

Inter Miami

On June 7, 2023, reports surfaced indicating Messi’s intention to join Inter Miami, the MLS franchise co-owned by David Beckham. The deal reportedly offers him a weekly salary of $1.03 million, totaling $54 million annually over four years. Interestingly, Messi’s contract with Miami will be enriched by a revenue share generated from Apple’s MLS Season Pass subscriptions. It was later disclosed that Lionel’s contract with Inter Miami provides him with a $60 million salary per year and a 10% ownership stake in the team, which has been valued at as much as $2 billion.

Adidas Endorsement

Messi, being one of the globe’s most recognized athletes, has been an Adidas endorser since 2006, making him their top brand ambassador. Initially signed by Nike at the age of 14, Messi later made the switch to Adidas. By 2008, he had launched a long-running collection of signature Adidas boots and established his own sub-brand, Adidas Messi.

Visit Saudi Endorsement Deal

A leaked contract in June 2023 revealed that back in January 2021, Lionel secured a three-year agreement allowing him to earn up to $25 million to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia. The contract outlines several requirements for Lionel:

• #1) He must take an annual vacation to Saudi Arabia, with up to 20 friends allowed. All associated expenses, including travel and luxury accommodations, are covered. The vacation should last at least five days.
• #2) He is required to make ten social media posts each year promoting Saudi Arabia using pre-approved hashtags from the kingdom.
• #3) Participation in an annual tourism advertising campaign is also necessary, which last year involved appearing in a promotional video for Visit Saudi.

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

When summed up, Lionel has the potential to earn $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 steelworker, while his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, contributed to the household as a part-time cleaner. He shares a close bond with his two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, as well as a sister named Maria Sol. The family regularly enjoyed playing soccer together with their cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom pursued professional football careers. At just six years old, Messi began playing for the Rosario soccer club, Newell’s Old Boys.

Diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of ten, Lionel’s father faced financial difficulties in covering his medical treatment. Although Newell’s initially agreed to help, they later retracted their commitment. Carles Rexach, the Sporting Director of FC Barcelona, proposed to take care of Messi’s medical expenses if the family could relocate to Spain. With the consent of Lionel’s father, Rexach created a contract on a napkin, and in February 2001, the family moved to Barcelona. They settled into an apartment close to Camp Nou, the club’s stadium. After his mother and siblings returned to Rosario, Messi experienced homesickness while remaining in Barcelona with his father. A year later, he joined the Royal Spanish Football Federation, becoming part of the “Baby Dream Team,” which featured some of Barcelona’s most talented young soccer players.

Career

At just 17 years old, Lionel debuted in the league against RCD Espanyol, making him the third-youngest player ever to represent FC Barcelona. He also became the youngest player to score a goal for the club. During the 2005-2006 season, Messi was officially compensated as a first-team player and obtained Spanish citizenship too. He made his debut in the Spanish First Division that year, receiving a standing ovation after scoring a goal alongside superstar Ronaldinho. In his seventeen League matches, he netted six goals and scored once in the Champions League in six games. The year 2006 saw Messi become the youngest Argentine to both play and score in the FIFA World Cup.

In the following 2006-2007 season, Messi suffered an injury with a broken metatarsal, sidelining him for three months. He returned to play against Racing Santander as a substitute. In March, he scored a hat trick against Real Madrid, being the first player since Ivan Zamorano to accomplish this feat in El Clasico. During the 2007-2008 season, Messi propelled Barcelona into the top four of La Liga. He received a nomination as a forward for the FIFA ProWorld XI Player Award, with Marca newspaper recognizing him as the best player globally. Various other publications suggested that Lionel deserved the Ballon d’Or. Ultimately, he won his first in 2009 at the age of 22 and continued his success with three consecutive wins in subsequent years. He also earned an Olympic Gold Medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics. By 2012, he set records for the most goals scored in a single La Liga and European season, solidifying his status as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer. In the following two seasons, Messi, now serving as Barcelona’s captain, finished in second place for the Ballon d’Or behind his career rival Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2014, he guided Argentina to the World Cup finals, where he was awarded the Golden Ball. Although Lionel announced his retirement in 2016, he reversed this decision and led Argentina to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They also achieved a third-place finish at the 2019 Copa America. In 2019, Messi made history by securing his sixth Ballon d’Or.

2022 World Cup

On December 18, Lionel and his Argentinian teammates triumphed over France in the final of the 2022 World Cup. Excluding penalty kicks, Lionel scored two goals in this match, which extended to overtime and a shootout.

Charity

The Leo Messi Foundation, founded by Messi, aims to improve the education and health care opportunities for underprivileged children. This charity was established in 2007 after his visit to a children’s hospital in Boston, an experience he described as transformative. With assistance from Herbalife, the foundation covers medical treatments, transportation, and recovery for children facing significant health challenges. Additionally, since March 2010, Messi has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, participating in a field mission to Haiti to raise awareness about the struggles faced by children in the wake of the earthquake.

Messi also engages in personal fundraising efforts, including global football matches and supporting various charities. He provides financial backing to numerous youth football clubs in Argentina like Sarmiento, Rosario Central, Newell’s, River Plate, and Boca Junior. In 2012, at his childhood club Newell’s, he financed the construction of a gym and dormitory within the club’s stadium. His former coach at Newell’s now works for the Messi Foundation as a talent scout for young athletes.

In March 2020, Messi contributed $1 million to assist in combating the spread of coronavirus. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 crisis, Messi and his Barcelona FC teammates agreed to a 70 percent salary reduction to ensure that no staff member at Barcelona would experience wage cuts during the global crisis.

Personal Life

Since 2008, Messi has been in a relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo, who shares his roots in Rosario. Their acquaintance dates back to when they were five years old, and they confirmed their relationship publicly in January 2009. Messi and Roccuzzo tied the knot in Rosario in June 2007. They are parents to three children: Thiago (b. 2012), Mateo (b. 2015), and Ciro (b. 2018). Lionel maintains a strong bond with his immediate family, particularly his mother, whose face is tattooed on his left shoulder. His professional endeavors are largely family-run, with his father acting as his agent since he was 14, and his older brother Rodrigo managing his public relations.

Real Estate

In 2009, Messi acquired a home in the Pedrables neighborhood of Barcelona for $2 million, subsequently investing millions in renovations and improvements. Today, the property is valued between $7 million and $10 million.

In November 2019, Messi purchased a condo in Miami for $5 million. Later, in April 2021, he spent $7.3 million on the entire ninth floor of another building in the same city.