Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is considered the greatest footballer of all time by many and has completely changed the way how people view the sport. His illustrious career includes a plethora of records and accolades, having won the Balon d'Or the most times and breaking the goal-scoring record for both FC Barcelona and Argentina. 

Off the field, his influence remains the same as he has solidified his status as a commercial powerhouse which he uses to advocate for various philanthropic endeavors including social justice, environmental sustainability, and many more.

What is Lionel Messi’s Net worth?

As of 2024, Lionel Messi has a net worth of around $600 million.

Lionel Messi is one of the most successful and recognizable footballers in the world, and as a result, his net worth reflects his status as a global icon. Much of Messi's wealth comes from his salary and endorsements. According to the reports, Barcelona was paying Messi an average annual salary of $168 million. However, in the summer of 2021, Messi left Barcelona to join the French club, which announced a contract with the club with a salary of $75 million per year.

Just after almost 2 years, Messi joined the MLS team, Inter Miami. He signed a 4-year contract, which pays him a salary of $54 million annually. Adding to the contract, Messi's income will also be fostered by a share of the subscription sold by Apple for the MSL Season Pass. 

Besides that, Messi received at least $50 million from his endorsements with brands such as Adidas, Pepsi, and Gatorade. According to Forbes, Messi earned $65 million from endorsements in 2023 and is slated to earn $75 million from endorsements in 2024.

What is Lionel Messi’s Claim to Fame?

Lionel Messi's claim to fame can be attributed to his exceptional talent as a footballer. Throughout his career, he has captivated audiences around the world with his skillful dribbling, quick thinking, and clinical finishing ability. Below are some of the notable periods that led to the growth of his fame and wealth.

• Debut and success with Barcelona: Lionel Messi's journey toward fame began with his transfer to FC Barcelona in 2003, where he grew up training in La Masia as a wonder kid. Later in 2004, he debuted for the main team at the age of 17, and from there, he slowly started to receive the limelight.
• Winning Streak: His career at Barcelona started to bloom after he became the youngest goal scorer for the club at that time. Slowly, he started to be recognized by the global media, which led him to become one of the hotshots in football at the time. Soon enough, his mind-boggling football prowess took the world by storm, specifically in 2012, when he surpassed Gerd Muller's record and scored 91 goals in a calendar year. By the time he left, he had already gotten his hands on 4 UCLs, 7 Copa Del Rey titles, 10 La Liga titles, and 6 Ballon d'Ors. This led many to consider him one of the greatest of all time, and soon enough, his influence and fame reached new heights.
• International Career: Messi's Journey with His Country Argentina has been quite a shaky one during the early years, as he has carried them to several finals without winning any accolades except a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. However, everything changed after 2021 when he finally secured his first-ever Copa America trophy, which was followed by a World Cup trophy in 2022. These international trophies made him one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to ever play the sport.
• Move to Other Clubs: In 2021, Messi departed from Barcelona and went ahead to join Paris Saint-Germain. That move went on to become a landmark event as he joined the likes of Neymar and Mbappe, who had already established themselves in the club. However, after two rather unsuccessful years with the club, he moved ahead with his career and joined MLS side Inter Miami, which was another event in Messi's life that took the world, and especially the U.S., by storm. 

What are some of Lionel Messi's Business Ventures and Endorsements?

Endorsment

His massive following of over 600 million across Instagram and facebook significantly helps him to influence his brand visibility.

Lionel Messi has been a brand ambassador for several high-profile companies and brands throughout his career. Aside from that, he also owns a couple of business ventures. However, it should be noted that the income from several of his ventures or endorsements has not been disclosed as of yet. Below is a list of some of the most important endorsements and the businesses he owns.

• Adidas: Messi has been a brand ambassador for Adidas since 2006 and has had several signature shoes released under the brand's name. He signed the only lifetime deal ever offered by Adidas in 2017. This contract pays him around $25 million annually. Additionally, Messi signed a revenue-sharing deal with Adidas after joining Inter Miami in 2023, which will definitely increase his annual salary from the German sports footwear company.
• Pepsi: He has also been associated with Pepsi since 2010 and has appeared in several of their advertisements, including the famous "Pepsi Challenge" campaign and the UEFA Champions League campaign.
• Mastercard: Mastercard is another major company that Lionel Messi has been endorsed by since 2017. He has also appeared in various Mastercard advertisements, including the "Start Something Priceless" campaign.
• Gatorade: The Argentine star has been a brand ambassador for Gatorade, a sports drink company, since 2018. He has appeared in several Gatorade advertisements and has endorsed the company's products, including the Gatorade Endurance Formula.

Businesses

• Messi Store: The Messi Store offers Lionel Messi's own clothing store, which he launched with Tommy Hilfiger's sister Ginny in 2019. This e-commerce store offers various clothing items, including premium streetwear, hoodies, accessories, and many more. 
• MAS+: Mas+ is Lionel Messi's most recent venture, which is an energy drink company that, by the 13th of June 2024, and by August of this year, the company is about to go global and sell its products online.
• The Messi Experience Park: The $200 million Messi Experience Park is the Argentine star's most valuable venture, which he made in collaboration with MediaPro, Phoenix Group, and Messi Management. It is a luxurious plan that spans over 9 hectares of area and consists of several hotels, VR experience domes, residential areas, and many more.

These are just a few examples of the brands and companies that Lionel Messi owns or has worked with as a brand ambassador. 

How does Lionel Messi spend his wealth?

Lionel Messi is known to spend quite a chunk of his money is expanding his empire, and within that, it also includes a list of luxurious estates, cars, and other high-end vehicles. So below is a list of his most valuable assets.

How many houses does Lionel Messi own?

Lionel Messi is one of the most successful footballers of all time and, as such, has been able to accumulate significant wealth throughout his career. As a result, he has been able to invest in several properties around the world, including homes, apartments, and other real estate investments.

• Barcelona: Messi is reported to own several properties, including a luxurious penthouse in the city center. Messi spent around $1.8 million to buy the penthouse in 2009. He has spent an additional $6 million renovating it since then.
• Condo in South Florida: Lionel Messi was reportedly paid around $9 million for a condo in the Porsche Design Tower. 
• Florida Mansion: According to Forbes, the football star paid $10.75 million for the waterfront mansion in the neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale. 

In addition to homes, Messi is also known to own many other personal and commercial properties. These investments provide him with a steady source of passive income and are a testament to his smart financial planning and business acumen.

What cars and other vehicles does Lionel Messi own?

The value of Messi's car collection as of 2024, stands somewhere around a whopping $50 million.

Messi's collection of cars and other vehicles is as extensive and luxurious as his real estate portfolio. Throughout his career, he has been able to accumulate an impressive collection of vehicles, ranging from high-end sports cars to luxurious jets. Some of the vehicles that Messi is known to own include:

Cars

• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: As the wealthiest football player, Messi is known to own the $642,000 SLS AMG that has been meticulously handcrafted by the German automaker.
• 2010 Pagani Zonda Tricolore: The $4 million Pagani Zonda Tricolore is known to be the Argentine football star's favorite of all due to its top-tier performance & sleek design.
• Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale:  Messi’s Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale comes in a beautiful shade of white, which is known to come for $240,000.
• 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti A classic in the truest sense of the word, Messi’s red 335 S Spider Scaglietti is an absolutely gorgeous and antique car, will a curvy look all along.

Yachts

• Maiora Seven C: Messi owns a $13 million mega yacht in which he usually enjoys the sea with his family.

What are Lionel Messi’s Charitable Contributions and Philanthropy Endeavors?

Lionel Messi is known not only for his exceptional football skills but also for his philanthropic efforts. Throughout his career, he has used his fame and success to make a positive impact on people's lives, and some of his most notable charity contributions and philanthropy endeavors include:

• Children's Hospitals: Messi has made visits to various children's hospitals globally, bringing joy and hope to young patients and their families. He has also made significant financial donations to children's hospitals. In 2019, he donated $500,000 to hospitals in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, for medical equipment and infrastructure improvements. He also donated over $3 million to help build Barcelona children’s cancer hospital.
• Fight against Poverty: He has also partnered with organizations such as UNICEF and the Leo Messi Foundation to support efforts to fight poverty and improve the lives of people in need. He has made significant financial contributions to these organizations, as well as donating his time and resources to raise awareness about the importance of this cause.
• Education: The Argentine star is a strong advocate for education and has made significant contributions to support educational initiatives for children. He has partnered with organizations such as the Leo Messi Foundation to build schools and support educational programs for children in need.
• Natural Disasters: Messi has made financial contributions to support relief efforts for victims of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. He has also used his platform to raise awareness about the importance of supporting those affected by these disasters.

These are just a few examples of the philanthropic efforts and charitable contributions that Lionel Messi has made throughout his career. He continues to use his success and fame to make a positive impact on people's lives, and he is widely admired for his generosity and commitment to making the world a better place.

What’s next for Lionel Messi? 

Messi has finally won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina and became the most decorated football player ever. As per reports this is going to be the last time he plays in this tournament, as after this he might have to retire after facing a severe injury on his right leg during the Copa America final against Colombia.

He also mentioned in an interview that Inter Miami will be that last club, as after his contract ends he is also set to retire as one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time.