Lionel Messi, an Argentine football player, became a billionaire

Many people believe that Lionel Messi is the greatest football player the sport has ever produced

How much money is he worth?

Even though Lionel Messi was unable to win a second World Cup, his legacy appears to be here to stay. He will be remembered as both an Argentine national hero and a worldwide celebrity in the vein of Pel, Maradona, and Ronaldo. He has also benefited greatly financially from the sport.

Halfway through the World Cup, the Spanish magazine Hola told its readers that Argentina's football fan culture is particularly well-known for its "creative chants that evolve from one tournament to the next". The catchy line "Por Malvinas, por el Diego, por la ltima de Leo" from this year's La Cuarta Estrella (The Fourth Star) alluded to Lionel Messi's most recent World Cup, the Falklands, and the nation's football patron saint, Maradona. According to the Buenos Aires Herald, the team was captured "passionately singing it in the dressing room during their tournament run," which gave the anthem "global traction."

According to the Financial Times, Messi's father signed a contract with FC Barcelona on a napkin when Messi was thirteen. It included the family's relocation to Spain from Rosario, Argentina. The Messis "wept in the taxi to the airport" as they joined the diaspora and fled Argentina's protracted economic downturn.

Lionel Messi is pictured with his family.

After playing for Inter Miami for 20 years, Lionel Messi, now 39, has never resided in his native country. However, this migration is now Argentina's face. It might be because "he identifies with the place he left," just like a lot of migrants. "The kid with the flowerpot haircut" only wanted to play for Argentina, despite Spain's advances to play for youth teams. He was raised by Argentinians in Spain before getting married to a girl he had known since childhood.

Despite being "a taciturn introvert" and lacking Maradona's "wild poetry" off the field, Messi, who has always been somewhat of an outsider, has developed an emotional connection to his native country. "Crucially for his legend, he has learned to express emotion," frequently shedding tears of happiness or sadness on the field.

But "his brilliance was unmissable" is what matters most. His "preternatural anticipation and short steps allowed him to change direction faster than opponents." He was a natural dribbler, what the Argentines refer to as a "pibe." Messi sees it all. "He walks and looks around for nearly the whole game. His teammates are aware that he has spotted an opportunity when he starts a run. For his benefit, they play."

Lionel Messi of Argentina, winner of the Adidas Golden Ball, kisses the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy.

How much money is Lionel Messi worth?

According to Forbes, hero worship has resulted in significant profits over time. Only four athletes have joined "the three-comma club" while still competing in their sport, and Messi is now a billionaire. Messi's "cash accumulation and appreciation" of earnings over his careerhe had a £675 million four-year contract with Barcelona in his final yearsaccount for a significant portion of his estimated £1.1 billion net worth. He reportedly makes between £70 million and £80 million a year with Inter Miami, "plus an option to acquire an equity stake" in the team when he retires, after earning "a massive salary" at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF, number ten.

Lionel Messi has earned over £600 million from corporate sponsorships off the field. In addition to his longstanding collaborations with companies like Mastercard, Michelob Ultra, and Lay's, his most noteworthy contract is a lifetime one he signed with Adidas in 2017.

The prices that Messi's memorabilia fetch are a gauge of his legend. At a Sotheby's auction in 2023, a collection of six shirts he wore during Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory brought in £7.8 million, making them "the second most valuable football jerseys ever auctioned."

According to Sky Sports, Messi's career hasn't always been easy. He and his father Jorge were convicted in 2016 of defrauding the Spanish government of £4.2 million over revenue from image rights between 2007 and 2009. However, The Profile stated in 2021 that his watchwords are patience and resilience. "The overnight success story" is a myth to Messi, who has been playing football every day since he was five years old. He once remarked, "Day after day, year after year, I start early and I stay late." "It took me 17 years and 114 days to achieve instant success."