Lionel Messi Net Worth in 2023, Career, Salary Highlights

Know about Lionel Messi’s Net Worth, Biography, Career, and achievements. He is an Argentine footballer, whose estimated net worth is $600 Million as of 2023. Read this post to learn more details about Lionel Messi and his Biography.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Andrés Messi, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine footballer who currently serves as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and is the captain of Argentina’s national team. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time and has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes.

In 2020, he was named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team. Throughout his professional career, Messi spent all his time with Barcelona until he left the club in 2021. He won a club record of 34 trophies, which includes ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues.

He also helped Argentina to win the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With his remarkable scoring and playmaking abilities, Messi holds various records such as the most goals in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the most international goals by a South American male. He has scored over 800 senior career goals for both club and country and holds the record for most goals by a player for a single club.

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Lionel Messi’s Net Worth

Lionel Messi, born in Argentina, is widely considered the world’s best soccer player, with a net worth estimated at $600 million. He earned most of his wealth playing as a striker and winger for FC Barcelona, where he scored an impressive 672 goals in 778 games.

In August 2021, Messi announced that he would be leaving Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain. Messi also represents the Argentina National Team. In December 2022, he led the team to win the World Cup.

Lionel Messi’s Earnings and Contract History

Lionel Messi, a world-famous soccer player, is among the highest-paid athletes globally and is arguably the highest-paid soccer player in the world. In 2017, he signed a contract with Barcelona that earned him an average base annual salary of $168 million, making him one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world.

Earnings from Endorsements

Aside from his base salary, Messi also earned around $40 million annually from endorsements. This meant that he was making about $200 million per year. By the time his Barcelona contract was over, Messi earned north of $1.3 billion from endorsements and salary combined.

Misconception about being a billionaire

However, despite reports that surfaced in some lower-quality sources, Lionel Messi is not a billionaire. To date, he has earned around $900 million in salary and $400 million from endorsements. While his next contract after the 2020 season will likely be one of the largest in sports history, it will take his career earnings up to $1.5 billion.

Messi’s Contract with Paris Saint-Germain

In August 2020, Barcelona announced that they could not afford to re-sign Messi, and he would be seeking contracts from other teams. Five days later, Messi announced he had signed with Paris Saint-Germain. His new contract with Paris Saint-Germain pays him a salary of $75 million per year, with an option for a third year.

Willing to Accept a Pay Cut

Reports indicate that Messi was willing to accept a 50% pay cut to stay with Barcelona. However, league rules prohibited this from happening. Even with a 50% pay cut, Barcelona’s salaries would have amounted to 110% of club revenue, whereas league rules require that number to be 70%.

Lionel Messi’s Salary and Contracts

Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and he has been handsomely rewarded for his skills on the field. When he was at his peak with Barcelona, Messi was easily the highest-paid soccer player in the world.

In 2017, he signed a contract with Barcelona that paid a base salary of $168 million. His contract numbers were a closely-guarded secret for several years but in January 2021, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo published the leaked contract details.

Under a previous contract, his annual base salary was $44.68 million. In August 2021, Lionel signed with Paris Saint-Germain. His initial contract is a two-year deal that works out to $75 million per year before taxes, and roughly $40 million after taxes. Messi’s contract also allows him to earn additional bonuses based on milestones and a cut of jersey sales.

Endorsements and Other Earnings

Messi earns an additional $40 million every year from endorsements. He has a lifetime endorsement deal with Adidas. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned a staggering $130 million. Messi has been featured on the covers of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 video games. He and Fernando Torres are the faces of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 video game and helped out with the trailer and motion capturing.

Misconceptions About His Net Worth

Despite what some sources may claim, Lionel Messi is NOT a billionaire. By the time his contract with Barcelona was over, with endorsements he earned north of $1.3 billion. By our count, he has earned around $900 million in salary to date and $400 million from endorsements.

Some outlets misread that stat and declared him a “billionaire”. His next contract after the 2020 season will easily be one of the largest sports contracts in history and will likely bring his career earnings up to $1.5 billion by the time it completes.

Pay Cut to Stay with Barcelona

He was reportedly willing to accept a 50% pay cut to stay with Barcelona, but league rules forbade this from happening. Even at a 50% pay cut, Barcelona’s salaries would have equated to 110% of club revenue, when league rules require that number to be 70%.

Adidas Endorsement

Lionel Messi, being one of the world’s most renowned and identifiable athletes, has been an Adidas brand ambassador since 2006. He is Adidas’ primary brand endorser. Although he began his endorsement career with Nike at the age of 14, he later switched to Adidas. In 2008, Messi launched a signature collection of Adidas boots that became long-standing. Adidas also created a sub-brand of boots specifically for him, called Adidas Messi.

Early Life of Lionel Messi

Early Life and Family

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. His father, Jorge Horacio Messi, worked in a steel factory, while his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, was a part-time cleaner. Messi grew up with his two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and his sister, Maria Sol. They would often play soccer together with their cousins Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, who also became professional footballers.

Early Soccer Career

Messi joined the Rosario soccer club, Newell’s Old Boys, when he was just six years old. However, at the age of ten, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, and his father could not afford the medical treatment. Newell’s initially agreed to pay for it but later reneged on their promise.

Move to Barcelona

Fortunately for Messi, FC Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Carles Rexach, offered to pay for his medical bills if he could move to Spain. With his father’s approval, Rexach drew up a contract on a paper napkin, and the family moved to Barcelona in February 2001. They settled into an apartment near Camp Nou, the club’s stadium.

Adjusting to Life in Barcelona

Although Messi was excited to play for Barcelona, he struggled with homesickness after his mother and siblings returned to Rosario while he stayed in Barcelona with his father. However, he eventually adjusted to life in Barcelona and began to thrive both on and off the soccer field.

After a year, Messi was enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation, where he became part of Barcelona’s “Baby Dream Team,” a group of young soccer players that would eventually become one of the club’s greatest collections of talent.

Lionel Messi’s Early Career and Debut

Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987. He started playing soccer at a young age and joined the Rosario soccer club at the age of six. When he was ten, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, and FC Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Carles Rexach, offered to pay for his medical treatment if Messi could move to Spain. With his father’s approval, Messi moved to Barcelona in February 2001.

Messi’s Debut and Rise to Fame

At the age of 17, Lionel Messi made his league debut for FC Barcelona against RCD Espanyol and became the third-youngest person ever to play for the team. He was also the youngest player to ever score for Barcelona. During the 2005-2006 season, Messi began being paid as a first-team member and also obtained his Spanish citizenship.

He also made his debut in the Spanish First Division league, scoring six goals in seventeen league appearances and one goal in six for the Champions League. In 2006, Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the FIFA World Cup.

Injuries and Successes

In the 2006-2007 season, Messi was injured with a broken metatarsal, which took three months to heal. He returned to the game against Racing Santander as a second-hand substitute. Messi made a comeback in March of that season, scoring a hat trick against Real Madrid, which made him the first player since Ivan Zamorano to do so in the El Clasico.

In the 2007-2008 season, Messi led Barcelona to the top four of La Liga. He won the nomination as a forward for a FIFA ProWorld XI Player Award, and the Marca newspaper named him the best player in the world. Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, at age 22, and went on to win three more in a row each year.

Further Achievements and Records

Messi obtained an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2012, he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season, sealing his fate as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer. The next two seasons, Messi, now the team captain for Barcelona, finished second for the Ballon d’Or behind career rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2014, Messi led Argentina to the finals in the World Cup, for which he also won the Golden Ball. In 2016, he announced his retirement but reversed his decision and led Argentina to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They also finished third at the 2019 Copa America. In 2019, Messi secured a record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or.

2022 World Cup

In the 2022 World Cup final on December 18, Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates emerged victorious against France. Lionel scored two goals in the game, which went into overtime and then a shootout, excluding penalty kicks.

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Lionel Messi’s Philanthropic Efforts

Lionel Messi is not only a great football player but also a philanthropist. He founded the Leo Messi Foundation in 2007, which aims to provide better opportunities for underprivileged children, especially in terms of education and healthcare.

The foundation, with the help of Herbalife, supports children who are diagnosed with major medical problems by covering their medical treatment, transportation, and recuperation expenses. Messi was inspired to start the charity after visiting a children’s hospital in Boston, an experience that deeply impacted him.

Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF

Messi has also been serving as the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since March 2010. He completed a field mission for UNICEF by visiting Haiti, where he raised public awareness about the challenges faced by the country’s children following a recent earthquake.

Fundraising and Supporting Youth Football Clubs

Messi also engages in individual fundraising activities, such as playing in global football matches to raise funds for various charities. He financially supports several youth football clubs in Argentina, including Sarmiento, Rosario Central, Newell’s, River Plate, and Boca Juniors.

In 2012, he funded the construction of a new gym and dormitory inside the stadium of his boyhood club, Newell’s, where his former coach is now employed by the Messi Foundation as a talent scout for young players.

Donations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, Messi donated $1 million to help fight the spread of coronavirus. Additionally, he and his Barcelona Football Club teammates agreed to take a 70% pay cut during the COVID-19 emergency to ensure that no Barcelona workers would have their wages docked during the global emergency. Messi’s philanthropic work demonstrates his commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Lionel Messi’s Personal Life

Relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo

Lionel Messi has been in a long-term relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo, who is also a native of Rosario, Argentina. They have known each other since they were five years old and confirmed their romance publicly in January 2009. The couple tied the knot in Rosario in June 2007.

Children

Messi and Roccuzzo have three children together. Their first child, Thiago, was born in 2012, followed by Mateo in 2015 and Ciro in 2018.

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Relationship with Family Members

Despite his busy schedule, Messi maintains a close relationship with his immediate family members, especially his mother. He even has a tattoo of her face on his left shoulder.

Professional Affairs

Messi’s professional affairs are mostly run as a family business. His father has been his agent since Messi was 14, and his older brother Rodrigo handles his publicity.

Real Estate Investments of Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has made significant real estate purchases throughout his career. One of his first was in 2009 when he bought a home in the Pedrables neighborhood of Barcelona for $2 million. After investing millions in renovations and upgrades, the property is now estimated to be worth between $7 and $10 million.

In November 2019, Messi purchased a condo in Miami for $5 million. Then, in April 2021, he acquired the entire ninth floor of another Miami building for $7.3 million. These purchases indicate Messi’s growing interest in investing in real estate, particularly in the United States.

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