Lionel Messi is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Born in Argentina, Lionel Messi is a professional footballer. The star athlete started his journey when he was still pretty young. He is among one of the richest athletes in the world. Lionel Messi’s net worth is more than some of the other top 10 players combined. Currently, he is the striker and winger of the FC Barcelona and Argentina National Team.
Unlike some of the other star players in the world of football, Lionel Messi doesn’t change his team much. And he has been playing for Barcelona most of his adult life. He is often said to be the best football player in the world. And being the best, he has gained his share of being the highest-paid athletes in the world. Let’s look at Lionel Messi net worth, his football journey, his career and know more about him.
Lionel Messi Net Worth
Lionel Messi net worth stands at $600 million. Messi earns most of his net worth from his salary that is $168 million thanks to his 2017 contract. Other than his base salary, he also earns around $40 million from endorsements. So, on average, he earns around $200 million every year. Currently, he is earning $200 million on average. While Lionel Messi net worth stands at $600 million but his next contract will be even greater.
His next contract after his 2020 season will be one of the largest sports contracts in the history of any sports. This new contract will bring his career earnings up to $1.5 billion by the time it ends. And this also means that Lionel Messi net worth at the end of the contract will be worth billions.
Lionel Messi Salary
It is no doubt that Lionel Messi is one of the biggest sportsperson in the world. He is also one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Apart from the vast Lionel Messi net worth, he also earns well on his contracts. Under Messi’s last contract, his annual salary was above $44 million. But then he signed a new contract with Barcelona in 2017 his salary quadrupled. After the 2017 contract, Messi’s base yearly salary was $168 million. This new contract with FC Barcelona was a closely guarded secret till January 2021. Then the Spanish newspaper El Mundo released Lionel Messi’s salary and contract details through the leaked contract details.
Other than his base salary, FC Barcelona also paid him around $100 million only in renewal fees and loyalty bonuses.
Lionel Messi Sponsors and Endorsements
As mentioned before, Lionel Messi also earns a huge sum through his endorsements. He has a lifetime endorsement deals with one of the biggest sports companies – Adidas. Being one of the most famous and recognizable athletes in the world Messi has been with Adidas for a long time. Adidas has been endorsing Lionel Messi since 2006. And Lionel Messi is also their leading brand endorser. Messi was endorsed by another sports company, Nike when he was 14 years old. But later, he switched to Adidas with whom he has stayed in a contract ever since. Adidas also has a long-running Messi signature collection of Adidas boots. Adidas has also made a sub-brand for the boots – Adidas Messi.
His endorsements paid him $130 million between June 2018 and June 2019. Messi was also featured on a few front cover of the Pro Evolution Soccer and other football videos games.
Other than Adidas, Lionel Messi has a long list of sponsors. From a Qatarian telecommunication company OOredoo to Pepsi, Gillette and more, Messi is a top sponsored athlete. The captain of Barcelona has quite a long list of sponsors from around the world. Currently, he is endorsed by Turkish Airlines, Pepsi, Gillette, Huawei, Gatorade and more international brands. A large % of Lionel Messi net worth comes from his sponsorships and endorsements alone.
Lionel Messi Business
Many athletes try their hands in businesses as well and Messi is no different. Unlike other star athletes who puh their merchandise for sales and revenues, Messi invest in real estate. He has invested in real estate in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. Other than that, he has also the financier of many residential projects in his hometown. Although not much is known about his other businesses according to reports he has other business interests as well.
Lionel Messi Charities
Other than being a star athlete, Lionel Messi is also active in the social service and charities fronts. He is the founder of the Leo Messi Foundation. His foundation helps offer and give better opportunities to underprivilege children. The foundation also looks after the children’s education and health care. Lionel Messi started his charity back in 2007 after his visit to one of Boston’s children’s hospitals. According to Lionel Messi, his visit to the children hospital made a great impact on him and change him.
Now, the Leo Messi foundation with the help of Herbalife helps to pay for the medical treatment, transportation and recovery of children with major medical problems. Other than founding a charity, Lionel Messi was made the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in March 2010. After being made a Goodwill Ambassador, Lionel Messi also completed a field mission for UNICEF. He went to Haiti to bring public awareness and to help the country and its children after the recent earthquake.
Lionel Messi often donates or partakes in social service or fundraising programs. He also does individual fundraising activities for programs like the global football matches. Although he owns his foundation he also helps in raising money for other charities as well. Lionel Messi supports many youth football clubs in Argentina financially. Some of those clubs are Boca Junior, Sarmiento, River Plate, Rosario Central, Newell’s etc. In 2012, he funded the construction of a new gym and dorm for his childhood club – Newell’s. The Leo Messi Foundation employed Messi’s former coach for Newell’s and also works as a talent scout for young players.
Lionel Messi Recent Donations
Recently, in March 2020, Lionel Messi made a donation of $1 million to help fight Covid-19. Not only that, he and his teammates also gave 70% of their salaries during the COVID-19 emergency. This was a gesture of goodwill by him and his teammates so that the workers of Barcelona would keep getting paid during the global pandemic and lockdown.
Lionel Messi Career
Lionel Messi began his career at the young age of 17. He made his league debut with FC Barcelona against RCD Espanyol. This made him the third-youngest football player to play in FC Barcelona. Not only that, but he also became the youngest player to ever score a goal for FC Barcelona. In the 2005-2006 season, Lionel Messi began being paid as a first-team member. It was during that time that he also got his Spanish citizenship. During his early years, Lionel Messi net worth was not much, but it grew with his career and his performance. Talking about Messi’s debut, he made it in the Spanish First Division league. Thanks to his outstanding performance, Messi received a standing ovation during the first match. In this match, he played with another football superstar and a big name Ronaldinho.
It was in 2006 when Lionel Messi became the youngest Argentine player to play and score in the FIFA World Cup. This put him in the big leagues and made his name known. But after the world cup, Messi was put to the hospital due to a broken metatarsal. It took him around three months to heal. After being back, his first match was against Racing Santander as a second-hand substitute. Later, in the 2006-07 season, he scored a hat trick against Real Madrid. This made him the first player to do so since Ivan Zamorano in the El Clasico.
Lionel Messi Awards and Recognitions
Lionel Messi won many awards and nominations during 2007-08. Some of the awards he won were FIFA ProWorld XI Player Award, the Ballon d’Or etc. He went on to win three consecutive awards back to back each year after 2008. The Barcelona captain has also won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
He became the top scorer for Barcelona in 2012 when he set the record for most goals scored in a single season in La Liga. In 2014, Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball for leading Argentina to the World Cup finals. Although Messi had announced his retirement in 2016 he came back and led Argentina to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the most recent news, Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon d’Or of his career.
