Lionel Messi has officially joined long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in football’s exclusive billionaire ranks.
This follows a surge in earnings tied to his move to Inter Miami CF and a growing portfolio of sponsorship and investment deals.
According to a Bloomberg analysis, the Argentine superstar’s net worth has now crossed the $1 billion mark, making him one of the wealthiest athletes globally and only the second footballer after Ronaldo to achieve the milestone, Bloomberg reported.
Messi, 38, has reportedly earned more than $700 million in salaries and bonuses since 2007, with additional wealth generated from endorsement partnerships, investments, equity deals, and real estate holdings.
The milestone comes nearly three years after the World Cup winner rejected a lucrative Saudi Pro League offer reportedly worth about $400 million annually. Instead, Messi opted for a move to the United States in 2023, signing for Inter Miami in a deal that has since transformed both his earnings profile and the commercial value of Major League Soccer.
The agreement also reportedly featured revenue-sharing arrangements connected to Apple’s MLS Season Pass streaming service, following a partnership between Apple and Major League Soccer.
Messi’s arrival has significantly boosted Inter Miami’s valuation. The club is now valued at approximately $1.45 billion, making it the most valuable soccer franchise in the United States and one of the world’s top-ranked football brands.
His financial rise mirrors a growing trend among elite athletes whose wealth increasingly comes from equity stakes, media rights, and investments rather than salaries alone. Sporting legends such as Michael Jordan and Roger Federer similarly built billion-dollar fortunes through strategic business investments outside their sporting careers.
Messi’s journey to billionaire status, however, remains one of football’s most remarkable stories. As a teenager, he famously joined FC Barcelona after the club agreed to fund his growth hormone treatment a decision that would later help shape one of the greatest football careers in history.
Today, after winning multiple Ballon d’Or titles, Champions League trophies, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, Messi has now added another milestone to his legacy, becoming one of the richest footballers the sport has ever produced.