Lionel Messi's Massive Net Worth Is Soccer-Playing Goals
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Lionel Messi is an Argentine-born soccer player, 2022 World Cup winner and eight-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or award as the world’s best male soccer player. At 36 years old, and after relocating to Miami to play Major League Soccer, he still commands respect on the field and top dollar on his paychecks.
Keep reading to find out how Messi became such a success and what sort of net worth he built along the way.
How did Lionel Messi get his start?
Messi was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and started playing soccer (called football outside the U.S.) as a young boy. At age 13, he and his family moved to Spain so he could play for FC Barcelona’s under-14 team.
In a 2010 interview, Messi said he chose Barcelona because they were the only club that offered to pay for growth hormone treatment. "It wasn't difficult for me to move to Barcelona because I knew I had to,” he told Match of the Day, a U.K. soccer magazine (via The Guardian). “I needed money for my medicine to help me grow and Barcelona were the only club that offered. So as soon as they did, I knew I had to go." Messi had been diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder, or GHD, and famed Argentinian clubs River Plate and Newell's Old Boys, declined to pay the expense.
Messi quickly advanced through the higher-level teams until he debuted for FC Barcelona at age 16. By 17, he became the youngest player in the Spanish La Liga—the highest division of soccer in Spain—and a year after that he won the Champions League with Barcelona.
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What is Lionel Messi's net worth in 2024?
In 2024, Lionel Messi has an estimated net worth of $650 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Enormous? Yes. But a massive net worth for an athlete of his caliber is not surprising. Messi has played for two decades as one of the best soccer players in the world; and while soccer isn’t always as lucrative as other pro sports, what he hasn’t made in salary he’s certainly been able to get through endorsement deals.
Is Lionel Messi a billionaire?
With a net worth of around $650 million, Messi isn’t a billionaire yet. However, he’s still going strong in his athletic career and banking millions in endorsements, one being his lifetime deal with Adidas. It’s totally possible that the 36-year-old will reach billionaire status in his lifetime.
Why is Messi so rich?
Simply put: It pays to be a soccer star. According to a Sportico estimate from 2023, Messi has earned $1.2 billion in salary, bonuses and endorsements over the course of his professional career. Clubs from all around the world have chased him and his most recent contract with Miami made MLS history.
What does Lionel Messi make from playing soccer?
Currently, Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer with a guaranteed yearly pay of $20.4 million (though he certainly makes more than that). He signed the contract in 2023—to go through the 2025 season—and it was reported to be worth up to $150 million total from his salary, signing bonus and equity stake in Inter Miami, his new team.
The Miami club is part-owned by David Beckham, former soccer star and fashion model.
“It still gives me goosebumps,” Beckham told The Times of London of the moment he found out Messi would be playing for Inter Miami. “I said, ‘How many elite athletes have had the opportunity to change a sport in a country?’ It is transformational for the sport in the United States. This is just the beginning. His presence, medium- to long-term, will prove that this league belongs among the world’s best leagues over time.”
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How much does Lionel Mess make from endorsements?
It’s hard to calculate any athlete’s yearly endorsement earnings, but Messi’s are for sure in the tens of millions. In 2021, Forbes reported that Messi earned $33 million from his various endorsement deals, from companies such as Adidas, Gatorade and Pepsi. In 2022, the publication bumped this number up to $65 million.
How much does Adidas pay Messi?
Adidas has been sponsoring Messi since 2006, but the real money came with the lifetime deal he signed in 2017 that’s worth an estimated $1 billion. This deal includes a revenue-sharing component that awards Messi a percentage of all jersey sales, among other things.
Who is richest, Ronaldo or Messi?
Lionel Messi is estimated to be slightly richer than Cristiano Ronaldo, although it depends on the source. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Messi is worth about $650 million while Ronaldo is worth $600 million. Ronaldo, at 39 years old, is just a few years older than Messi and reportedly has no plans to retire from playing.
Who is the highest-paid soccer player?
Messi is the highest-paid soccer player in the U.S., but MLS players are very underpaid compared to international leagues where soccer is more popular. According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid player in the world with 2023 earnings of $260 million. The Portuguese athlete currently plays for Al Nassr, a Saudi Pro League team.
In comparison, Messi was estimated to have made about $135 million in 2023.
Does Messi own hotels?
One of Messi’s investments is the hotel chain MIM Hotels. Through it, he reportedly owns six luxury 4- and 5-star hotels located throughout Spain.
What does Messi spend his money on?
Other than Spanish hotels, Messi likes to spend his money on luxury cars. According to Goal, his collection includes a Pagani Zonda Tricolore (worth $2 million), Ferrari F430 Spyder, Dodge Charger SRT8, Maserati Gran Turismo and more.
He was also rumored to have purchased a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Spider Scaglietti in 2016 for $36 million, but an Instagram post showing him holding a toy car appears to make fun of and potentially deny this claim.
Like many ultra-millionaires, Messi travels in a private jet, estimated to be worth $15 million. He also owns homes across the world, including a $7 million mansion in Barcelona, another mansion in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, a luxury condo in Saint Isles Beach, Florida, and a $10.75 million waterfront mansion near Fort Lauderdale that he bought after signing his Inter Miami deal.
