Lionel Messi Reaches $1 Billion Net Worth, Joining Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham as Football’s Only Self-Made Billionaires

Lionel Messi has entered the billionaire bracket, becoming only the third footballer in history to achieve self-made billionaire status alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. The 38-year-old Argentine reached the milestone through a combination of his Inter Miami contract, commercial endorsements, and diversified investments, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Messi’s 2023 decision to reject a reported offer from Saudi Arabia in favour of joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami has proved financially transformative. His current deal at the club incorporates a high base salary, a share of MLS Season Pass subscriptions via Apple TV+, and a percentage of Adidas merchandise sales driven by his global profile. Bloomberg reports that Messi has earned in excess of $700 million in salary and bonuses since 2007. After accounting for taxes, investment returns, and income from sponsorships, his total net worth has now surpassed the $1 billion mark.

The financial structure of his MLS move included an innovative revenue-sharing component that was discussed between the league and Apple during initial contract negotiations, according to The Athletic. Under that arrangement, Messi receives a portion of revenue generated by new subscribers to Apple TV+’s MLS Season Pass streaming package — a deal that directly tied his earnings to the growth of the sport’s broadcast footprint in North America.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has indicated that Messi’s total annual compensation from the club falls between $70 million and $80 million when equity rights and player compensation are factored in. Mas also noted that take-up for the MLS Season Pass streaming service doubled in the months following Messi’s arrival. The so-called “Messi effect” has extended beyond broadcast numbers, with Inter Miami’s club valuation now estimated at between $1.2 billion and $1.45 billion.

Beyond his playing contract, Messi has assembled a substantial off-field portfolio. His commercial partnerships include a long-term global deal with Adidas as well as major endorsements with PepsiCo, Mastercard, Budweiser, and Gatorade. He has also launched his own sports hydration brand, Mas+, established a production company called 525 Rosario, and holds investments in the luxury hospitality sector through MiM Hotels. Additionally, Messi holds an option for a significant ownership stake in Inter Miami upon his retirement, a provision that is expected to further solidify his financial position.

Messi’s entry into the billionaire bracket places him alongside two footballers who reached the milestone through different but comparable paths. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first active footballer to achieve billionaire status, a threshold he crossed through his Al-Nassr contract and the revenue generated by his CR7 brand. David Beckham, meanwhile, built his wealth through brand endorsements, business ventures, and co-ownership of Inter Miami — the same club Messi now represents. The three remain the only footballers to have reached self-made billionaire status through football and entrepreneurship.

Messi, who won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and has claimed eight Ballon d’Or awards, continues to play professionally at 38. His financial trajectory underscores a broader shift in how elite footballers structure their earnings, with performance-linked commercial deals and equity arrangements increasingly supplementing traditional salary income.