Lionel Messi, a renowned Argentinian-born professional athlete, has a net worth of $850 million, and is considered one of the highest-paid players in history, with earnings exceeding $1.6 billion by the end of his contract with Barcelona. He has earned around $1.2 billion in salary to date and $400 million from endorsements.
Lionel Messi, an Argentinian-born professional sportsman, boasts an estimated net worth of $850 million. Regarded by many as the world's best soccer player and one of the greatest of all time, Messi is undoubtedly among the highest-paid athletes in history. During his tenure with Barcelona, which spanned from his teenage years to 2021, Messi scored an impressive 672 goals in 778 games. On August 10, 2021, it was announced that Messi would be joining Paris Saint-Germain, in addition to his role with the Argentina National Team. On December 18, 2022, Messi and the Argentina National team emerged victorious in the World Cup. Contrary to reports from some less reliable sources, Messi is not a billionaire. By the time his contract with Barcelona expired, his total earnings, including endorsements, surpassed $1.6 billion. However, his actual net worth is lower, with estimated earnings of around $1.2 billion in salary and $400 million from endorsements. During his peak at Barcelona, Messi was the world's highest-paid soccer player, with a contract signed in 2017 that guaranteed a base salary of $168 million. The details of his contract were initially kept private but were later disclosed by the Spanish newspaper 'El Mundo' in January 2021, revealing an annual base salary of $44.68 million under his previous contract. In August 2021, Messi signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, which translates to $75 million per year before taxes, or approximately $40 million after taxes, with potential bonuses based on performance and jersey sales. Messi also earns an additional $70 million annually from endorsement deals, including a lifetime contract with Adidas. As one of the world's most recognizable athletes, Messi has been sponsored by Adidas since 2006, serving as their leading brand ambassador. Initially signed with Nike at the age of 14, Messi switched to Adidas and later launched his own signature collection of Adidas boots, known as Adidas Messi, in 2008. According to certain obligations, Messi is paid $2 million per year, with the possibility of earning an additional $2 million per year for participating in charitable work. Over a three-year period, Messi can potentially earn $25 million for relatively minimal work, with the condition that he cannot make any statements that might 'tarnish' Saudi Arabia. Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, worked in a steel factory, while his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, was a part-time cleaner. Messi is close to his siblings, including two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol, with whom he would often play soccer alongside their cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, who also became professional soccer players. Messi joined the Rosario soccer club at the age of six and played for Newell's Old Boys. At the age of ten, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, and his family struggled to afford the necessary medical treatment. Newell's initially agreed to cover the costs but later retracted their offer. Carles Rexach, the Sporting Director of FC Barcelona, offered to pay for Messi's medical treatment if he could move to Spain, and the family relocated to Barcelona in February 2001. Messi initially suffered from homesickness after his mother and siblings returned to Rosario, but he eventually adjusted to his new life in Barcelona. After a year, Messi was enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation and became part of the 'Baby Dream Team,' a group of talented young soccer players at Barcelona. Following the World Cup, Messi suffered an injury in the 2006-2007 season, which took three months to heal. He made a remarkable comeback, scoring a hat-trick against Real Madrid, and led Barcelona to the top four in La Liga in the 2007-2008 season. Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009 and went on to win three more consecutive awards. He also secured an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics and set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season in 2012. In 2014, Messi led Argentina to the World Cup finals, where he won the Golden Ball, and in 2019, he secured a record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or. On December 18, 2022, Messi and his Argentina teammates defeated France in the World Cup final, with Messi scoring two goals in the game. Messi is the founder of the Leo Messi Foundation, which aims to provide better opportunities for underprivileged children in terms of education and healthcare. He established the charity in 2007 after visiting a children's hospital in Boston, an experience that deeply impacted him. The foundation, in partnership with Herbalife, helps to cover medical treatment, transportation, and recuperation costs for children with serious medical conditions. Messi has also been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since March 2010 and has participated in a field mission to Haiti to raise awareness about the plight of the country's children following a devastating earthquake. Messi engages in various individual fundraising activities, including global football matches, and supports several youth football clubs in Argentina, such as Sarmiento, Rosario Central, Newell's, River Plate, and Boca Junior. In 2012, Messi funded the construction of a new gym and dorm at his boyhood club, Newell's. In March 2020, Messi donated $1 million to help combat the spread of coronavirus, and he, along with his Barcelona teammates, took a 70% pay cut during the COVID-19 emergency to ensure that no Barcelona workers would have their wages reduced. In 2009, Messi purchased a home in the Pedrables neighborhood of Barcelona for $2 million, which he later renovated and upgraded, and is now estimated to be worth $7-10 million. In November 2019, Messi bought a condo in Miami for $5 million, and in April 2021, he acquired the entire ninth floor of a different building in Miami for $7.3 million. In early 2025, Messi purchased four units in a Miami building, including one unit priced at around $7.5 million, spanning approximately 3,500 square feet with four bedrooms, in an 80-story tower featuring upscale amenities.