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Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever footballers to grace the sport.
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His pull ensures that he can command huge wages and sponsorship deals.
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As he continues to perform at the highest level, a huge net worth will only increase further.
Born on 24th June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina’s third biggest city, Lionel Andrés Messi displayed a prodigious talent for football at a very early age. It was this talent that saw Barcelona snap him up when he was just 13.
He struggled initially with the move to another continent while so young but having made his debut at the age of 17 there was no looking back, and he has gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest players of all time, with a net worth to match his generational talent.
How Much Is Lionel Messi Worth?
It is thought that Lionel Messi has a net worth of £309 million, but it is a difficult figure to nail down due to his vast and varied earnings, and the level of privacy he maintains over parts of his life.
In 2019, Forbes ranked Messi as the highest earning athlete with an income of £98m. A leak of his last Barcelona contract meanwhile showed a deal worth almost £500 million if certain conditions were met.
Included in the contract was a £120 million annual base salary, a £100 million signing bonus and a £65 million loyalty bonus. Premier League odds suggested a possible move to England during the past year, but such figures may have put off any suitors.
In addition, Messi has far too many sponsorship deals to mention, such as those with Pepsi, Gillette and Turkish Airlines.
When Ronaldo signed a $1 billion deal with Nike, it is thought Messi signed a similar deal with Adidas, and he also boasts a large property portfolio.
Lionel Messi House
For many years, Lionel Messi lived in an incredible mansion with beautiful sea views in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels. He even bought his neighbour’s house for more peace and quiet.
Twelve miles away from Camp Nou, the mansion and grounds include its own football pitch, swimming pool, gym and playground.
Messi spent millions on the property to make it the perfect place to live, though his desire for privacy ensures there are few photos of the interior.
There is even a no-fly zone over the neighbourhood, which has unsurprisingly attracted other footballers such as Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.
Having now made his move to Paris, he will be looking for a similar property in the French capital, to add to his portfolio of properties around the globe.
Lionel Messi Wife
Lionel Messi is married to his childhood sweetheart, Antonella Rocuzzo. Both grew up in the city of Rosario and were friends from the age of five, as Antonella was a cousin of a friend of Lionel.
It was not until 2008 however that they went public with their relationship. The couple finally married in 2017 and are proud parents of three children.
Antonella has forged her own career in modelling, having originally trained as a dentist at university. She has over 12 million followers on Instagram and is clearly a devoted mother and partner.
Lionel Messi Contract
In the summer of 2021, the unthinkable happened with news emerging of Messi leaving Barcelona for Paris St. Germain on a two-year deal. Messi’s new contract earns him £30m per season in wages, plus significant bonuses.
He received a £25 million signing-on fee and will get a cut of player image rights and shirt sales that could see him netting £50 million a year. There is also an option of a third year on his contract.
Despite the eye-watering amounts involved, his contract at PSG will see him earn far less than he was at Barcelona though the numbers previously involved are understandable, with many La Liga predictions suggesting Barcelona will struggle without their greatest ever player.
Lionel Messi Trophies
Lionel Messi has won everything there is to win at club level, with 35 major titles. He has won 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona, plus seven Spanish Cups (Copa Del Rey), and the Champions League on four occasions.
Add to that list three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups and eight Spanish Super Cups.
The only regret will be that Messi could not secure another Champions League in his last six years at the club. Having moved to PSG, live betting odds hint at plenty more trophies to follow.
Messi has experienced far less success representing Argentina, with four unsuccessful Copa America campaigns until finally lifting the trophy in 2021. He has an Olympic gold medal, but his one World Cup final appearance ended in defeat.
Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo
The Lionel Messi v Ronaldo debate is one that has dominated football debate for well over a decade. This is unsurprising considering two of the sport’s greatest ever players have played at roughly the same time.
It seems everyone has taken a side in the discussion, but deciding which player is better is impossible considering their differing skill sets and relentless excellence.
Ronaldo has more club goals but has played two more seasons. The fact each has over 670 club goals shows how they have pushed each other to ridiculous heights, as demonstrated by Messi’s 73 goals in the 2011/12 season.
It is a debate that will continue long after they both retire and with football betting markets offering short odds on Ronaldo returning to England, it is a rivalry with some chapters remaining.
Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or
The Ballon D’or, or “Golden Ball”, is an annual football award presented to the player voted the greatest in the world.
It was first presented in 1956 and is seen as the most prestigious individual award in the sport. Since its inception, Lionel Messi has become its most successful winner, having taken the title on six occasions.
Having finished third and second in previous years, he won his first award in 2009, and went on to win the next three too.
Ronaldo picked up the gong on five occasions as their rivalry defined a decade of football, but Messi became its most successful recipient by winning further awards in 2015 and 2019.
He has been second in the voting on five other occasions, always behind Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi Instagram
Under the user-name ‘leomessi’, the footballer has an astonishing 253 million followers on his Instagram account, where you will find the types of posts you expect from a high-profile sportsman.
There are plenty of family shots, fashion shoots, posts pushing his support for numerous good causes and charities, and of course a wide range of football photos of him, representing his club and country.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Rafael Yaghobzadeh / Pool via AP*
