Argentina national team forward and American “Inter Miami” player Lionel Messi has become the second billionaire footballer in history. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old Messi has earned over $700 million in salary and bonuses since 2007. Taking into account taxes, market indicators, and income from investments and sponsorships, his net worth has exceeded the $1 billion mark\u00a0<\/p>\n
– the publication writes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This places him alongside long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese forward who became the first billionaire in the sport after joining the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in 2023, as one of the world’s wealthiest athletes.<\/p>\n
The publication notes that while Ronaldo’s flashy image has long attracted advertisers, ranging from petroleum products to sportswear, Messi’s marketing machine at the beginning of his career sometimes struggled to match the heights of his on-field talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But recently\u2014under the guidance of his father, Jorge\u2014his business career has flourished. A massive salary from his current team, Inter Miami, alleged revenue-sharing deals from television, real estate, and even a stake in an Argentine restaurant chain have all helped him join the ten-figure income club\u00a0<\/p>\n
– the publication adds.<\/p>\n
It is also noted that Messi’s move to the US opened up other innovative ways of receiving compensation. During initial contract negotiations, Major League Soccer and Apple discussed a revenue-sharing deal that would see Messi receive a share of sales from new subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming package on Apple TV+.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a reminder\u00a0<\/p>\n