Estimated Fortune of Lionel Messi in 2024
Lionel Messi: A Rise to Billionaire Status and Philanthropy
Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, continues to make headlines for his exceptional talent on the pitch and his growing wealth off it. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Messi demonstrates his commitment to using his wealth and influence for the greater good.
Messi's financial trajectory suggests a possible entry into the realm of billionaire athletes in the future. His lifelong sponsorship deal with Adidas, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, significantly amplifies his financial portfolio. Partnerships with major brands like Adidas, Apple, and others significantly boost his earnings.
Messi's personal life and values play a significant role in shaping his financial decisions. Balancing luxury and modesty, he invests in global real estate holdings, his retail venture The Messi Store, and ventures in crypto and NFTs. His charitable foundation, the Leo Messi Foundation, provides education and healthcare to vulnerable children.
Messi's journey from a young talent to a global football icon and successful businessman is a remarkable story of talent, hard work, and strategic financial planning. Throughout his career, he has achieved numerous league titles, Champions League victories, and individual awards like the Ballon d'Or.
Messi was the world's highest-paid footballer with a salary reaching $180 million per season in the last five years at Barcelona. In 2022, he made approximately $130 million, making him the world's second-highest-paid athlete, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo. Forbes estimates Messi has earned roughly $1.28 billion throughout his career through on-field contracts and lucrative off-field endorsement deals.
The growth of Messi's earnings over time is a testament to his football success and strategic financial planning. In his early career, he started with modest salaries but quickly became the highest-paid player at FC Barcelona. During his peak years at Barcelona, he broke the €40 million mark in 2013 and hit a peak combined income of €126 million (~$154 million) in 2018 from salary and endorsements.
In 2023, Messi's move to Inter Miami marked a new chapter in his career, both in terms of football and financial earnings. He reportedly earns $50–60 million annually, boosted by endorsement deals with Apple and Adidas, along with revenue from MLS season pass subscriptions, and even a stake in the club itself.
Messi's main sources of income include football salaries and bonuses, endorsements, merchandising and shares, and other ventures and sponsorships. The largest portion of his earnings comes from his contracts with FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, including base salaries, signing bonuses, and performance-related bonuses. Major brand partnerships have been highly lucrative, contributing significantly to Messi's wealth.
As of 2023, estimates suggest that Messi's total career earnings are $1.2 billion (salary + bonuses + endorsements). His net worth is estimated to be around $600 million in 2024. Despite his wealth, Messi continues to demonstrate a thoughtful approach to wealth management, balancing luxury and modesty in his investments and expenditures.
Note: Net worth figures can vary due to differing valuations of assets, endorsements, taxes, and investments. Estimates are based on publicly available figures as of mid-2025.
[1] Forbes (2023). Lionel Messi's Net Worth: How the Soccer Superstar Makes His Money
[2] ESPN (2023). Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami: How much is he worth?
[3] Business Insider (2023). Lionel Messi's net worth 2023: How the soccer superstar's salary compares to Cristiano Ronaldo
[4] BBC News (2022). Lionel Messi: Barcelona star becomes world's second-highest-paid athlete
[5] Leo Messi Foundation (2023). About Us
- With his successful football career and lucrative endorsement deals from brands like Adidas, Apple, and others, Lionel Messi is not only making a significant impact in the world of sports, particularly football, but also venturing into various sectors such as wealth-management, personal-finance, and real estate.
- As a billionaire athlete and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Messi demonstrates the potential for sports figures to achieve financial success while simultaneously using their wealth and influence for philanthropy and charitable causes, like his own Leo Messi Foundation.
