Lionel Messi has spent most of his life on a football pitch, but football is not the only reason he has made so much money. His years at Barcelona brought him fame and some of the biggest contracts in the sport. Later, he played for Paris Saint-Germain before his move to Inter Miami in 2023. Along the way, he signed major deals with brands that wanted his name on their products.

Estimates of Messi’s net worth range from $850 million to $1.1 billion. Some reports put his total career earnings before taxes at $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion. These are not figures Messi has confirmed himself, so the exact amount of his wealth remains unknown.

Lionel Messi Net Worth

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Messi’s time at Barcelona accounts for a large part of his football earnings. He joined the club as a teenager and stayed for more than 20 years. During that time, he won major titles, broke scoring records and became one of the most recognised players in the world.

His career took a new turn in 2021 when he left Barcelona for PSG. Two years later, he moved to Inter Miami. The American club offered him a new challenge, but the deal also opened up commercial opportunities linked to the growing popularity of football in the United States.

Then there are the brand deals. Adidas has worked with Messi for years, and companies across different industries have paid to associate their names with him. These deals bring in money outside his club salary.

It is worth keeping one thing in mind: the money Messi has earned throughout his career is not the same as the money he has today. Taxes, spending, investments and other costs all affect his wealth. That is why published net worth figures differ.

Detail	Information
Full name	Lionel Andrés Messi
Nationality	Argentine
Profession	Professional footballer
Current club	Inter Miami CF
Known for	Barcelona, Argentina national team and Inter Miami
Estimated net worth	850million–1.1 billion
Estimated career earnings	1.6billion–1.9 billion before taxes
Inter Miami contract	Through the 2028 MLS season
2026 base salary	$25 million
2026 guaranteed compensation	$28.33 million
Major sponsor	Adidas

How Much Does Lionel Messi Earn at Inter Miami?

Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, and his arrival quickly put the club in the spotlight. Fans who had followed him at Barcelona and PSG now had a chance to watch him play in Major League Soccer.

For the 2026 season, the MLS Players Association lists his base salary at $25 million. His guaranteed compensation comes to approximately $28.33 million.

That is a substantial amount, but his club salary is only one part of his income. Messi also has sponsorship contracts and commercial arrangements that sit outside his regular football pay.

His current contract runs through the 2028 MLS season. This gives Inter Miami the chance to keep its biggest star for several more years, while Messi continues to earn from his playing career and other deals.

The Apple TV Deal and Other Benefits

Messi’s Inter Miami agreement has attracted attention because of its reported links to businesses associated with MLS.

One of these is Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. Reports have described an arrangement that could give Messi a share of subscription revenue. His arrival brought more attention to the league, which helps explain why such a deal has attracted interest. The exact payment terms are not public.

Adidas is another part of the picture. Reports have linked Messi’s contract to merchandise sales and profit-sharing, although the details are not clear enough to put a reliable figure on these earnings.

There has also been talk of Messi receiving an ownership stake in Inter Miami after his playing career. Such a deal could give him a financial interest in the club itself, rather than income from playing alone. The exact terms of any future stake are not clear from the available information.

These arrangements help explain why his total earnings may be much higher than the salary listed by MLS. However, without the full contracts, it is difficult to work out exactly how much each deal adds to his income.

Lionel Messi’s Adidas Deal and Other Sponsors

Adidas has been one of Messi’s biggest commercial partners for years. His football career helped make him a familiar face around the world, and the company has used that connection to sell boots, jerseys and other sportswear.

How Much Does Messi Earn From Adidas?

Image Source: Pixabay

Messi signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Adidas in 2017. Some reports estimate that it brings him around $25 million a year, though the company has not publicly confirmed the exact amount.

The partnership covers more than the boots he wears on the pitch. Adidas also sells products that carry his name, and Messi may earn royalties or other payments under the terms of the deal.

The lifetime agreement is particularly important because it can keep the commercial relationship alive after his football career ends.

Other Brand Endorsements

Adidas is not the only company that pays Messi to promote its products. He has also worked with PepsiCo, Mastercard and Hard Rock International. His name and popularity make him a valuable partner for brands that want to reach football fans around the world.

Messi has also entered the drinks business with Más+ by Messi, his own hydration drink brand. The business gives him another source of income outside football. However, its sales and his share of the profits are not publicly known.

Reports estimate that Messi earns between $60 million and $70 million a year from endorsements and commercial deals. The exact amount is difficult to pin down because companies do not usually share the details of their contracts with him.

Lionel Messi’s Annual Earnings in 2026

Messi earns millions from Inter Miami, but his salary is only part of his yearly income. Brand deals bring in a substantial amount too, and he may receive money from other commercial agreements.

Income source	Estimated annual amount
Inter Miami guaranteed compensation	$28.33 million
Endorsements and commercial ventures	60million–70 million or more
Apple TV and other revenue-sharing deals	Exact amount unknown
Total annual income	Around $140 million, according to some reports

Some reports put Messi’s annual income at around $140 million. The figure includes estimates from different sources, so it may not match his actual earnings for the year. His Inter Miami compensation is based on published salary figures, but the amounts he receives from individual sponsors and revenue-sharing deals are less clear.

Where Does Lionel Messi Make His Money?

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Messi has earned money at every major stage of his football career. Barcelona paid him for more than two decades, PSG added another high-value contract, and Inter Miami continues to pay him for his work on the pitch.

His income also comes from outside football. Adidas and other sponsors pay him under commercial agreements, while his own business ventures give him a stake in products sold under his name.

His main sources of income are:

• Football salary: His contracts with Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami.
• Bonuses: Extra payments included in some contracts.
• Brand deals: Partnerships with Adidas and other major companies.
• Royalties: Payments he may receive from products that use his name or branding.
• Business ventures: His Más+ by Messi hydration drink brand.
• Revenue-sharing deals: Reported arrangements linked to MLS and its commercial partners.

The money from these sources does not all go straight into Messi’s pocket. Taxes and other expenses reduce his earnings, while business ventures can make or lose money. The value of a company or brand also does not tell us how much its owner has earned from it.

Messi has not shared a complete breakdown of his finances. We know about some of his salaries and commercial deals, but the value of his investments, other assets and financial commitments remains unclear.

Is Lionel Messi a Billionaire?

Estimates of Messi’s net worth vary quite a bit. Some put him above $1 billion, while others place his wealth closer to $850 million. Neither figure has been confirmed by Messi.

His reported career earnings of $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion refer to the money he may have earned before taxes throughout his career. That is not the amount he has left today. Taxes, spending and investment returns all affect his current wealth.

His earning potential also extends beyond his playing career. The Adidas partnership and other commercial deals may continue to bring in money after he retires. His business ventures could add to his wealth as well, although their future value is difficult to predict.

So, has Messi crossed the billion-dollar mark? Some estimates say yes, while others do not. Without a confirmed account of his assets and liabilities, there is no reliable way to settle the question.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lionel Messi’s net worth in 2026?

Online estimates place Messi’s net worth between $850 million and $1.1 billion. He has not confirmed his personal wealth publicly.

How much does Lionel Messi earn at Inter Miami?

His reported base salary for the 2026 MLS season is $25 million. His total guaranteed compensation is approximately $28.33 million, according to MLS Players Association figures.

When does Messi’s Inter Miami contract end?

Messi’s current contract runs through the 2028 MLS season.

How much does Messi earn from Adidas?

Some reports estimate that Messi earns around $25 million a year from his lifetime Adidas deal. The company has not publicly confirmed the exact amount.

How much does Messi make from endorsements?

Estimates put his annual endorsement and commercial income at $60 million to $70 million or more. His actual earnings may differ because the details of his individual contracts are not public.

Has Messi earned more than $1 billion?

Reports estimate that his career earnings before taxes may total $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion. That figure covers earnings over many years, not his current net worth.

Does Messi earn money from Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass?

Reports have linked Messi’s Inter Miami deal to a share of subscription revenue from Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. The exact terms and payments have not been made public.

What are Lionel Messi’s main sources of income?

Messi earns money from football salaries, sponsorships, royalties and business ventures. His Inter Miami contract and Adidas partnership are among the major parts of his reported income, but the exact contribution of each source is unknown.