Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that he is one of the wealthiest athletes on the planet. What is Lionel Messi’s net worth? Who is Lionel Messi sponsored by? How much is Messi’s salary per year? In today’s article, we will try to come up with all the answers to the questions you might have had regarding Lionel Messi’s finances.
What Is Lionel Messi’s Net Worth?
| Year | Value |
| Lionel Messi Net Worth 2022 | £850 million |
| Leo Messi Net Worth 2021 | £800 million |
| Lionel Messi Net Worth 2020 | £650 million |
| Leo Messi Net Worth 2019 | £525 million |
How much is Lionel Messi worth? The Argentine has an estimated net worth of £850 million. We have used the word “estimated” because Messi is very private about his financial situation. His representatives work around the clock to keep his financial information safe from the prying eyes of the media.
In 2019, Forbes placed Lionel Messi first on the list of highest-earning celebrities in the world. Even though Cristiano Ronaldo has a higher net worth than him, Lionel Messi had trumped his arch-rival in annual revenues that year. Lionel Messi’s yearly income was $127 million in 2019, while Ronaldo made $109 million and Neymar banked $105 million.
Leo Messi Salary
Thanks to his current FC Barcelona deal, Lionel Messi’s weekly wage is in the ranks of the world’s best-paid sports personalities. It will also keep Lionel Messi’s net worth incredibly high over the coming years. How much does Messi make a week? Reports claim that number is in the vicinity of £500,000 or $610,000 a week after taxes.
Lionel Messi 2018 salary breakdown reveals that he was making £336,000 before signing his new Barcelona deal. That amount is still a mouthwatering one, but it dwarfs in comparison to his current salary package. However, Messi’s current deal will expire at the end of the ongoing season. As of now, the Catalans didn’t offer him an improved contract.
Barcelona is desperate to keep hold of their talisman, but the club’s current financial state is holding them back to offer Messi an even more lucrative contract. An investigative report from El Mundo claimed that the club has an outstanding level of debt amounting to $1.4 billion. To tackle their financial woes, the Blaugrana is trying to trim their wage bill.
Without considering other sources of revenue, Lionel Messi yearly earnings are in the region of £119 million. He has also received renewal fees and loyalty bonuses from the club. Upon signing his new contract, Barcelona paid him almost a hundred million pounds only in renewal fees.
Since 2017, Messi has earned £473 million from Barcelona. But, he has also been a great source of income for the club. We will explore that aspect in more detail in the following section. Is Lionel Messi as important for Barcelona off the pitch as he is on it? Let’s take a closer at the numbers.
Related Articles
How Much Revenue Does Messi Generate For Barcelona?
Barcelona merchandise shops sell two million Lionel Messi jerseys on average every year. The shirts are priced between £80 to £180 each. Barcelona receives 15% of total shirt sale revenue, which means they make £32 million from Messi shirt sales alone. Social media posts also see a significant reach boost when Barcelona mentions Messi.
Barcelona earns £57 million from social media interaction because of Leo Messi. Messi also draws twice the sponsorship and media right value than other Barcelona players. All this puts Messi’s annual revenue return in the ranks of £150 million. Estimates show that Barcelona has earned more than £1 billion because of Messi between 2017 and 2021.
Who Is Lionel Messi Sponsored By?
Lionel Messi has a long list of sponsors ranging from German sportswear giants Adidas to Qatarian telecommunication company Ooredoo. So, it would be impossible to mention all parties affiliated with the Barcelona captain. However, the most significant sponsorship deal he has is the lifetime contract he has with Adidas which brings him £71 million per year.
Messi announced his Adidas deal months after news broke that Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed on a long term deal with Nike worth a billion dollars. Pepsi, Gillette, Turkish Airlines, Huawei, and Gatorade are some of the other brands that endorse Lionel Messi. Apart from Adidas, Lionel Messi reportedly rakes in £27 million per year in sponsorship money.
Lionel Messi Businesses
Many high-profile athletes introduce their own line of products and monetise the huge fan following they build over the years. In terms of popularity, Messi doesn’t have much competition. He is a familiar name around the globe, but he didn’t take the route of pushing his own merchandise.
His off-the-pitch ventures are more run of the mill than you might have thought of. Messi has invested in real estate in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina. He has financed many residential projects across the town. We don’t have concrete information on his other ventures, but reports suggest he has other business interests as well.
Lionel Messi Tax Fraud Accusations
In 2016, a Spanish court found Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Messi guilty of evading tax payments worth €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009. As punishment, Messi received a 21-month prison sentence, while his father received a 15-month prison sentence. The Spanish authority found proof of the duo manipulating image right revenue figures.
Messi’s lawyers succeeded to settle with the authorities. As a result, the court suspended both Messi’s and his father’s prison sentences. In exchange for jail time, Messi had to pay out a total fine of €3.5 million. He also had to pay €5 million to pay off his due tax with interest.
Lionel Messi Charities
Lionel Messi has his own charity foundation that works around the planet to make lives better for the unfortunate. At his wedding, Messi requested the guests to make donations to the Lionel Messi Foundation instead of bringing gifts to the ceremony. He has been working with UNICEF since 2004. In 2010, the organisation made him an ambassador.
Final Say
Lionel Messi’s net worth reflects his status as one of the richest footballers in the world. But, he has also been a financially profitable asset for his club. He will continue to make big money after hanging up his boots from the high-paying Adidas deal he has secured for the remainder of his lifetime.
