Lionel Messi is a world-renowned soccer player, but there’s more to this superstar than just kicking the ball.
He gets many zeros every month for his outstanding performances and game. But unlike what you think, he still gets lots of cash from knowing how to put himself and his talent at a price.
Think about it, sports + talent, such a killer duo, which is precisely what has taken him to be one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, and we’ll cover everything from Lionel’s family background to his current salary to know from where his net worth comes!
Who Is Lionel Messi?
We already set the record: he is a superstar when it comes to soccer.
On June 24, 1987, he was born in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge and Celia Messi.
When he was five years old, he started playing football for Grandoli, a club coached by his father at that time, and then, in 1995, he switched teams to Newell’s Old Boys.
Unfortunately, he had been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that his parents were unable to help with or afford due to the financial crisis in Argentina and their finances and the cost of the treatment.
This is why his family moved to Barcelona in 2000, looking for better opportunities and a way to finance his treatment with the talent he was (and is) able to offer.
This was when the sporting director of FC Barcelona came into the picture after receiving information about his existence and talent, which is why the club allowed him to play in their installations. After watching him, things started to get settled.
The club offered to pay all his medical bills as long as he was willing to move to Spain to start playing in the club as part of the youth team.
Then, he started in the Barcelona B team not long after his debut in the previous one.
Here’s when his life started to change.
After an operation to stop his growth hormone deficiency was performed, several performances in the other club’s teams, he was able to play as a professional player for FC Barcelona.
By the time he was 18, everyone was praising the young star after taking the heavy shirt of one of the best clubs in the world.
His story in soccer follows his entire journey in FC Barcelona despite all the recent problems with the administration, the decline of the club, and internal issues.
However, Lionel Messi still stands with it, and after the competition season ended recently in 2021, he is a free agent at the moment, but most people bet that he will be staying with his first and only club so far.
Lionel “La Pulga” Messi’s Career
Outstanding doesn’t cover everything we have to mention about his career despite the most recent decline in the club he plays for (or maybe not).
However, going back to the early years, he can brag about several collective awards:
- 2004-2005 awards: La Liga playing in the FC Barcelona; third-place in the South American U-20 Championship and winner in the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina U20.
- Between 2005 and 2006, he won La Liga, UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup as Runner-Up with FC Barcelona.
- In 2007, the Argentinian team was the Copa America Runner-Up.
- From 2008 to 2011, several awards are included: three-time winner in La Liga, 2 Spanish Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League.
From 2011 to this date, it collected several awards from the same championships, either as the winner, runner-up, or third place.
The most recent and known ones are in the World Cup 2018 as runner-up and the CONMEBOL Copa América 2020 winners.
Going over all his titles and trophies, we can mention 34 won with his club only:
- 10 La Liga titles.
- Seven Copa del Rey titles.
- Four UEFA Champions league Tournament Titles, and
- Four FIFA Club World Cups (one in the Youth Championship).
You can see that there is no other player who has so many achievements as Lionel Messi when it comes to championships with one team only.
Leaving aside the collective awards, he has won a record of six Ballon d’Or awards, six European Golden Shoes, and last year (2020), named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team.
The star holds many records, including the one for most La Liga goals, with 474.
World’s Richest Soccer Player
Messi is known for his accomplishments and records.
But also for his net worth, which at this time, according to Forbes, has an estimated value of $130 million.
Yes, you read it right! He isn’t just a football player, and he’s much more than that:
- Endorsement and sponsorships deals with Air Europa, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gatorade.
- Other brands and companies like Lay’s and Jacob & CO are associated with the star.
Lionel Messi’s most significant income and revenue come from his salary in FC Barcelona, Argentina’s football team, and additional payment every time the club lifts a title or wins an award.
With his salary and team alone, he earns $97 million, while endorsements and sponsors bring $33 million more to the total.
As you can see, the money doesn’t come from playing soccer only, but it does include the highest earnings.
During his latest contract in the FC Barcelona, he is paid $610k (approximately) a week, making it a multimillionaire without too much effort to find other investments.
He may not be the most prominent businessman, but Messi has made sure to invest in properties.
Unfortunately, not many details are disclosed of those, and when it comes to other private projects, Messi loves keeping his life like that: private.
As for endorsements, you have to keep his deal with Adidas at the top.
The contract with Adidas is stipulated to be a lifetime agreement and something that he will not have to worry about during the following years he continues playing regardless of the team.
Campaigns with Pepsi as a business partner, Gillette, and Turkish Airlines are worth mentioning. Still, the details about the payment or how much the soccer player receives from the agreements are not disclosed.
Now, despite how unstable his current situation is in FC Barcelona, he continues to place himself as the highest-paid soccer player in the world.
Also, as the second richest athlete in the world according to Forbes 2021, just below Conor McGregor (UFC professional fighter).
However, the difference between this first and second place is not too big, and we must consider that Lionel Messi gets most of his net worth from his salary, titles won, and games.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor bet for businesses and earnings outside of his UFC career.
In other words, Messi is a full-time and pure soccer player that has collected over 70% of his net worth thanks to his dedication and disinterest in general businesses (without including the hotel near Barcelona he supposedly owns).
However, not being interested has opened many doors for sponsors and make sure he does not even have to move a finger but just let them rain and choose from several.
What’s Next for The Highest-Paid Football Player?
We are not sure.
After a long journey with his only and almost forever club (since we are not sure yet), Messi is now a free agent and open to receive proposals or contracts from other clubs.
On June 30, his contract with FC Barcelona expired, and no details have been given about his decision or what he will do next.
Of course, he sure was busy focusing on winning the Copa America with the Argentinian team the past July 10.
However, after the celebration, everyone is expecting to know more about his decision. Will he continue or choose to move to another club?
It is not a secret that Pep Guardiola, ex-football manager for FC Barcelona between 2007-2012, would love having the football superstar on his current team, Manchester City Football Club.
No negotiations or offers have been made so far, and since we are just ending the championship season, we will have to wait and see how things develop until the next time.
One thing is for sure, be it in La Liga, Premier League, or any other league, Messi is expected to continue playing for the next few years.
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