Lionel Messi undeniably carries weight in the football world; very few names carry that much weight. Football fan or not, we all know he is adored by millions for what he delivers on the field– watch his games and you would understand. This is one of the things that has earned him a net worth of approximately $850 million. Decades of greatness on the field and some very shrewd business moves are no joke.
Salaries, bonuses, sponsorships… everything from his playing career is said to have reached the estimates of $1.1 to $1.3 billion. Then we have $130 to $135 million annually from his Inter Miami salary and sponsorship deals overseas. What I have noticed so far is that new-generation athletes are not focusing on sports alone anymore– Messi is a perfect, living example that they’re now moving into corporations. Now, let’s break down where all that money is really coming from, and perhaps where it’s going.
The Football Goldmine
Football, of course, is the anchor. His current contract with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer is not just for base salary—it comes with incentives to match his celebrity. Messi’s contract also has revenue-sharing agreements with sponsors like Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass and merchandising… that’s on top of the tens of millions he receives in salary(estimates exceed $20 million annually in guaranteed salary). So whenever Miami jerseys bearing his name sell off the shelves, or television ratings skyrocket because he’s on the field? Messi gets a share of that dough.
His past contracts set the stage for this money boom, honestly. When he played for Barcelona, one leaked 2021 contract showed he could receive up to $165 million in a single season if you factor in salary and bonuses. Paris Saint-Germain lined his bank account further before he nixed the Miami move. Now, with equity holdings in Inter Miami itself, Messi’s not just a player– he’s a future club owner in waiting. Soccer has always fueled his fortune, but he’s long since moved past that to building an empire that will survive his playing days.
Endorsements
Whereas football gave Messi the platform, endorsements made him global cash. The exemplar of his endorsement deals is his lifetime contract with Adidas– one that pays him tens of millions annually while making him the face of their football unit.
His partnerships list goes on and on, almost like his career awards– he has partnered with PepsiCo, Apple, Gatorade, Beats by Dre, and Socios. Endorsement salary is estimated to equal(if not surpass) his salary on the pitch. Dual income means financial leeway to pursue work beyond endorsements– he did just that.
Messi has recently branched into building his own brands, instead of simply endorsing. He introduced a series of wines called 10 GOAT, produced in Italy, as a nod to upscale dining and his own self-proclamation as the ‘Greatest of All Time.’ He also introduced Más+, a sports and energy drink that rolled out in the U.S., specifically South Florida, where he is based. To that, Messi added 525 Rosario– a media and production company based in Miami and Los Angeles– to produce films, commercials, and events. This shift from endorsement to ownership is a pivot. Messi’s no longer just the face of brands. He’s becoming the creator of them.
Real Estate And Hotels
Endorsements and football make the money, but Messi wisely put plenty of his cash into real estate and hotels. He brought together his holdings under Spanish real estate investment trust–REIT–Edificio Rostower Socimi– this was done with assets of around €223 million(approximately $232 million USD) in November 2024. Portfolio includes residential, commercial real estate, and at least seven hotels all over Spain and Andorra. Messi partnered with Majestic Hotel Group to launch MiM Hotels- a luxury boutique hotel chain recognized for quality and environmental-friendliness- which has hotels located across Spain and Andorra. These hotels have proven to be one of his most valued assets in his hospitality empire.
What this earns him is repeat revenues from tourist spots.
US property investments are just as staggering. Since moving to Florida, Messi has gone big on Miami high-end property. Aside from his oceanfront villa in Fort Lauderdale, worth a cool $10.75 million, he also owns several units in the Porsche Design Tower, and later signed a deal for the purchase of four luxury units in Cipriani Residences Miami– one unit going for an estimated $7.5 million. Open up properties in Paris, Barcelona, and London, and it is clear that Messi has built a physical empire as global as his persona.
Venture Capital And the Future of Messi, Inc.
Through his investment studio, Play Time, he’s determined to invest roughly $200 million in technology, sports, and entertainment startups. Rather than simply living from football returns and sponsorships, Messi’s now acting like a capital allocator, investing carefully calculated risks in areas with potential for long-term growth.
His production company, 525 Rosario, is another result of this approach. Miami- and LA-based, the firm makes original film, commercials, and sports programming. This not only establishes his media presence but also has him with a significant presence in entertainment beyond football.
Messi’s foray into beverages with Más+ and his wine brand 10 GOAL demonstrates this same diversification logic. By establishing entire verticals, not only does he command consumer eyeballs, but also supply chain and proprietorship of the brands, implying higher long-term returns.
Sketching Out Messi’s International Empire
Moresi’s financial empire now stretches across industries and territories. He plays for Inter Miami in Miami, owns real estate, and has built brands like Más+ and 525 Rosario. Edificio Rostower Socimi REIT and MiM Hotels are his real estate and hotel dominance across Spain and Andorra. His 10 GOAT wine business uses European culture and luxury markets in Italy. His Play Time investment fund– that stretches across the world, financing companies that vary from technology and entertainment globally.
Rosario to Barcelona, Paris to Miami, and from vineyards in Italy to Florida’s luxury skyscrapers– Messi’s wealth is everywhere.
The Bigger Picture
So what does $850 million in net worth actually mean in Messi’s legacy? It is not just having money—it’s having options. By building businesses, hotels, and media interests, Messi ensures that his influence will still be felt long after the final whistle is blown. His $130 to $135 million a year salary is astronomical, but the tale here is how those revenues are being funneled into assets that will last longer than his footballing career.
Messi’s kingdom is established almost like a fortress: football is the foundation, endorsement is the walls, property is the roof, and his ventures in media and technology are the towers scanning in the direction of the future. It’s the kind of game of money that turns an athlete into an institution.
By 2025, Lionel Messi is not just among football’s greats– he’s one of the very few most intelligent athlete-entrepreneurs in world history.
