Inter Miami pays Lionel Messi $65 million every year, and he makes an additional $70 million through endorsements, according to media reports.
With an annual salary of £111.3 million, Lionel Messi has joined the ranks of the world’s highest-paid soccer players on Forbes’ list for the first time since David Beckham.
To the shock of the soccer world, Messi signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Inter Miami of the MLS, earning an annual salary of £53 million with the team co-owned by David Beckham. Rumor has it that he turned away an annual salary of £433 million, which would have made him the highest-paid athlete in history.
Instead, his former adversary Cristiano Ronaldo takes the top spot on Forbes’ list thanks to the £164.9 million per year he earns from his Al-Nassr deal. However, because to his off-the-field deals, Messi has found himself in a wealthy situation despite his decision to decline the Saudi Pro League.
Like Beckham, Messi’s contract gives him the option of investing in Inter Miami once he retires. He also has annual endorsement deals for £57m with Adidas and Apple TV, the companies that control international broadcast rights for MLS.
Since Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami has played before sold-out crowds wherever it has played. Occasionally, tickets have fetched thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Recent letters sent to Miami season ticket holders encouraged renewal for the upcoming year, with some recipients receiving renewal quotes for double their existing annual cost.
Messi won’t be permitted to play club soccer again until February 2019, despite having helped his former team, Miami, win their first title (the Leagues Cup).
Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League were allegedly interested in loaning him, but he turned their offers down to focus on Argentina during the summer for Major League Soccer.
After the current international break, Messi will return to Miami for the final two regular season games before playing in two Argentina contests in November and then some friendly with Miami before taking a five week holiday.
