Lionel Messi Net Worth: How Wealthy Is The Barcelona Legend?

Lionel Messi’s football talent is rare and as such, it is worth a huge price. In this post, we shall explore Lionel Messi’s net worth. Having played professionally for close to two decades, the 36-years old Inter Miami forward has amassed a lot wealth not just from his wages and bonuses in the clubs he has played for but also endorsement, sponsorship deals among other business ventures he is involved in.

In the subsequent paragraphs, you will get to know about Lionel Messi’s net worth as he is one of the richest sports personalities in the world. You will also get to know the worth of his houses/apartments in Rosario, Argentina, Barcelona, Argentina, Paris, France and his current abode, Miami. Florida, United States.

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What is Lionel Messi Net Worth?

Lionel Messi, as a prominent figure in the realm of professional athletics, boasting an astounding net worth of $600 million. Revered as the global pinnacle of soccer prowess and quite possibly one of the most remarkable players in history, Messi’s renown knows no equal. Without a doubt, he occupies a prominent position among the most handsomely compensated athletes in history, potentially even reigning at the summit.

The origins of Messi’s early financial success can largely be attributed to his tenure as a striker and winger for FC Barcelona. His association with Barcelona spanned from his formative years until 2021, a period during which he etched an impressive record of 672 goals across 778 matches. A decisive juncture arrived on August 10, 2021, when he made public his transition from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. Importantly, he also stands as a stalwart of the Argentina National Team, basking in a triumphant World Cup victory alongside his comrades on December 18, 2022.

Incontestably, Lionel Messi epitomizes the archetype of a globally esteemed soccer player who commands substantial financial compensation. This distinction extends to his broader standing as one of the premier earners in the realm of international athletics. His monumental 2017 contract with Barcelona ensured him an average yearly base salary of $168 million. Further fortifying his earnings is a realm of endorsements that contributes significantly, adding an estimated annual revenue of around $40 million. Collectively, this culminates in an impressive yearly income of roughly $200 million as part of that particular contract.

It is of paramount importance to dispel any misconceptions arising from unreliable sources that attempt to position Lionel Messi as a billionaire. In reality, his financial achievements, when endorsements are considered, amassed a sum exceeding $1.3 billion by the conclusion of his contract with Barcelona. His salary earnings approximate $900 million, supplemented by $400 million derived from endorsements. Despite certain misleading narratives, he falls short of the actual billion-dollar threshold.

The landscape shifted on August 5, 2020, when fiscal constraints within Barcelona impeded the re-signing of Messi, prompting him to explore opportunities beyond. Within a mere five days, he officially cemented his affiliation with Paris Saint-Germain. The contractual arrangement with the team secured an annual compensation of $75 million, inclusive of an option for an additional year.

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Notably, Messi expressed a willingness to accept a 50% salary reduction in order to continue his tenure with Barcelona. However, league regulations imposed restrictions that precluded such an arrangement. The adherence to this proposed reduction would have resulted in the aggregate player salaries for Barcelona exceeding 110% of club revenue, contravening the stipulated league benchmark of maintaining this proportion at 70%.

A significant development came to fruition on June 7, 2023, when Lionel Messi unveiled his collaboration with David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami. This collaboration is characterized by a distinctive agreement featuring a revenue-sharing arrangement linked to subscriptions sold through Apple’s coverage of the MLS season. More intricate details regarding this pioneering contract are poised to be revealed in the near future.

Lionel Messi contract at Barcelona and PSG

During his peak years with Barcelona, Lionel Messi undeniably reigned as the preeminent earner among soccer players worldwide. The pivotal juncture arrived in 2017 when he formalized a contract with Barcelona, securing a substantial foundational salary of $168 million. For a span of several years, the specifics of these contractual terms remained closely safeguarded; however, the shroud of secrecy was lifted in January 2021, courtesy of a leaked disclosure by the Spanish publication El Mundo. In his preceding arrangement, his annual base remuneration tallied at $44.68 million.

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With the advent of August 2021, Lionel embarked on a fresh chapter by affiliating with Paris Saint-Germain. His initial contract spanned two years, entailing an annual compensation of $75 million prior to accounting for tax deductions, which ultimately translated to an approximate $40 million post-taxation. Messi’s contractual provisions extended to encompass the potential to accrue supplemental incentives linked to reaching specific milestones, as well as a stake in the revenue generated from jersey sales.

The sphere of endorsements further amplifies Messi’s earnings by an annual increment of $40 million. Noteworthy in this regard is his enduring endorsement partnership with Adidas. Over a timeline spanning from June 2018 to June 2019, his endorsement earnings soared to a staggering $130 million. Messi’s prominence transcended to the realm of video games, where his visage graced the covers of titles such as Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. Moreover, he, in collaboration with Fernando Torres, assumed the role of prominent figures for the Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 video game, lending their influence to trailer conceptualization and motion capture initiatives.

The Mega Saudi Deal

Lionel Messi’s net worth would have been higher than what it is right now if he had taken the $1b deal from Saudi Arabia top club.

Reports emerged in May 2023 suggesting that Lionel Messi was on the verge of finalizing a staggering $1 billion contract with an undisclosed team within the Saudi Pro League. The proposed agreement would entail a remarkable annual remuneration of $400 million for Lionel.

Should these reports hold true, the annual compensation would nearly double the substantial 2.5-year arrangement that Cristiano Ronaldo embraced in December 2022. Cristiano had entered into a deal with a Saudi Pro League team named Al Nassr, a pact amounting to an eye-popping $535 million.

However, Messi did not take the deal as he opted to go play for Inter Miami in the United States.

Messi’s deal at Inter Miami and Adidas

Messi joined Inter Miami, an MLS team co-owned by David Beckham in the summer of 2023. As per the reported terms, the agreement spans four years and boasts a substantial weekly salary of $1.03 million, amounting to an annual sum of $54 million. Notably, Messi’s involvement with the Miami team takes an intriguing turn, involving a distinctive arrangement that incorporates a revenue-sharing component linked to subscriptions sold by Apple for its MLS Season Pass.

Adidas, having astutely recognized Messi’s worldwide prominence and recognizability, initiated its sponsorship of him in 2006, thereby positioning him as their premier brand ambassador. While his initial association was with Nike at the tender age of 14, Messi eventually transitioned to Adidas. This affiliation culminated in 2008 with the establishment of a longstanding signature collection of Adidas boots, which, in a notable stride, led to the creation of his own line of boots known as “Adidas Messi.”

Messi’s deal with Saudi Arabia Tourism

Shifting focus to another notable endorsement agreement, a contract came to light in June 2023, unveiling an accord sealed in January 2021. This arrangement pertains to a three-year commitment wherein Messi has the potential to amass up to $25 million by promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia. The stipulations within this contract include:

Participating in an annual vacation to Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a maximum of 20 companions. All associated expenses, encompassing travel and luxurious accommodations, are comprehensively covered. The duration of this vacation is mandated to be no less than five days.
Crafting 10 social media posts annually to endorse Saudi Arabia, incorporating pre-approved hashtags furnished by the kingdom.
Engaging in an annual advertisement campaign centered on tourism, potentially encompassing a variety of promotional endeavors. In the prior year, this commitment materialized in the form of a single promotional video for Visit Saudi.

For obligations numbered 2 and 3, Messi is poised to reap $2 million for each obligation on an annual basis. Additionally, he holds the prospect of garnering an extra $2 million annually for active participation in charitable undertakings.

When aggregated, over a span of three years, Lionel Messi stands to accumulate a substantial sum of $25 million for commitments that can be considered relatively moderate. However, it is crucial to acknowledge a stipulation stipulated within the contract and identified through careful examination: Messi is obligated to refrain from making any statements that could potentially cast a negative light on the image of the country.

Forbes’ list of the top 10 highest-earning athletes for the period from May 1, 2022 to May 1, 2023, including active athletes only

Lionel Messi’s net worth is staggering no doubt but is he the highest-earning athlete currently? According to Forbes, below are the top-earning active athletes in the last one year and some months: