Lionel Messi — Net Worth and Career Earnings
Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest footballer in history and the most followed athlete on the planet. As of 2026, his net worth is estimated at $700 million, built across a 22-year professional career spanning Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami CF in the MLS.
Messi earns an estimated $50 million per year in total, comprising his Inter Miami base salary, a revenue-sharing arrangement tied to Inter Miami growth, and his lifetime Adidas sponsorship deal estimated at $35 million per year. The Apple TV+ streaming deal — which Messi directly catalysed by joining MLS — also includes a bonus structure. He holds an ownership stake in Inter Miami CF alongside co-owner David Beckham.
His international career with Argentina produced records that may never be broken: 191 caps and 112 goals, both all-time records for the national team. He captained Argentina to Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024, and to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — the one honour that had been missing from what was already a historic career. That World Cup win, completed with a penalty shootout victory over France in one of the greatest finals ever played, is widely considered the defining moment of his legacy.
His club career statistics are equally staggering. In 778 appearances for FC Barcelona, he scored 672 goals and contributed 265 assists — records that will stand indefinitely at the club. He won 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, and 7 Copa del Rey titles with Barcelona. He has won the Ballon d Or eight times, more than any other player in history. His career total across all clubs stands at 742 goals in 913 appearances.