Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward who plays for Inter Miami and captains Argentina. He was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe. His father, Jorge, worked in a steel factory. His mother, Celia, worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. He has Italian and Spanish ancestry on his father’s side, and mainly Italian ancestry on his mother’s side. He grew up in a close family that loved football.
Messi has been sponsored by Adidas since 2006. France Football listed him as the world’s highest-paid footballer for five of six years between 2009 and 2014. Forbes ranked him the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2019 and 2022. Time included him among the 100 most influential people in 2011, 2012, and 2023.
Messi won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2020 and 2023, becoming the first team-sport athlete to achieve this. He was named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020. He became the second footballer to pass $1 billion in career earnings. In 2025, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Joe Biden.
Lionel Messi Contract
Lionel Messi’s contract earns him a base salary is $12 million per year, and his total guaranteed compensation is $20.446 million. He earns the highest salary in MLS with Inter Miami. This amount includes bonuses and performance incentives. This makes him the highest-paid player in MLS history. Messi has extended his Inter Miami contract until 2028 and continues to play in the league while preparing for the 2026 World Cup.
What is Lionel Messi’s Salary
Lionel Messi’s contract gives him an annual compensation of $20,446,667. His base salary is $12 million and is the top-paid player in MLS. The remaining amount comes from guaranteed bonuses, marketing payments, and agent fees. His contract runs until 2028 under MLS terms, and his salary is higher than the full payroll of 21 MLS teams.
How much does Lionel Messi make in a minute?
Lionel Messi makes about $38.9 per minute from his $20.446 million annual salary.
What is Lionel Messi’s Career Earnings
Lionel Messi’s career earnings are expected to reach about $1.6 billion by the end of 2025. This total includes his playing salaries, bonuses and his endorsement income.
His Inter Miami deal is worth $50–60 million per year, which includes his salary, signing bonus and an equity share in the club. This equity stake is unique and will give him ownership in Inter Miami after he finishes playing.
Messi earned more than $100 million per year in salary and bonuses during his top years at Barcelona. At Paris Saint-Germain, he made around $70 million per year before taxes. He earns close to $60 million per year from endorsements with brands such as Adidas, Budweiser, Mastercard, Pepsi and others.
Lionel Messi’s Year-by-Year Contract History
Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami in 2025 pays him about $20.4 million in guaranteed annual compensation, the same amount he earned with the club in 2024 and 2023. Before moving to MLS, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, earning €40 million net in 2022 and €30–40 million net in 2021. His final major contract at FC Barcelona ran from 2017 to 2021, where he earned €138 million gross per year, one of the highest salaries ever in football.
Earlier at Barcelona, Messi received €20 million net in 2014, €16 million net in 2012, €10.5 million net in 2009, €8.5 million net in 2008, and €4 million net in 2007. His 2005 Barcelona renewals raised his pay from €1 million net in February to €2 million net in June. In 2004 he earned a bit over €100,000, and his 2000 youth contract with Barcelona did not have publicly disclosed terms.
| Year | Club | Annual Compensation (Estimated) |
| 2025 | Inter Miami CF | $20.4 Million (Guaranteed) |
| 2024 | Inter Miami CF | $20.4 Million (Guaranteed) |
| 2023 | Inter Miami CF | $20.4 Million (Guaranteed) |
| 2022 | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) | €40 Million (Net) |
| 2021 | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) | €30 – €40 Million (Net) |
| 2020 | FC Barcelona | €138 Million (Gross) |
| 2019 | FC Barcelona | €138 Million (Gross) |
| 2018 | FC Barcelona | €138 Million (Gross) |
| 2017 | FC Barcelona | €138 Million (Gross) |
| 2014 | FC Barcelona | €20 Million (Net) |
| 2012 | FC Barcelona | €16 Million (Net) |
| 2009 | FC Barcelona | €10.5 Million (Net) |
| 2008 | FC Barcelona | €8.5 Million (Net) |
| 2007 | FC Barcelona | €4 Million (Net) |
| 2005 (June) | FC Barcelona | €2 Million (Net) |
| 2005 (Feb) | FC Barcelona | €1 Million (Net) |
| 2004 | FC Barcelona | €100,000+ (Estimated) |
| 2000 | FC Barcelona | (Terms not disclosed) |
FAQs
Q. How much is Lionel Messi’s new contract?
A. Lionel Messi signed a three-year deal with Inter Miami through the 2028 season. His earlier 2023 contract was worth $150 million over two and a half years, or $60 million per year, including a signing bonus and an equity stake.
Q. Why did Messi reject the €1.5 billion offer?
A. Lionel Messi said he wanted to step out of the spotlight and think more about his family, explaining that he had two years where he was unhappy on a personal level.
Q. How much was Messi paid to join Inter Miami?
A. Lionel Messi’s MLS base compensation was $12 million. His total MLS figure was $20.4 million, including marketing bonuses and agent fees.
Q. Did Al Hilal offer Messi $1 billion?
A. Yes. Lionel Messi turned down an offer reported to be worth around $1 billion from Al Hilal.
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