Messi's Miami Pay Packet: £60m+ a Year to Keep the Magic Going Pink!
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas revealed Lionel Messi's annual cost to the club is $70-80 million, worth every penny for the MLS superstar. This positions Messi as the world's second-highest on-pitch earner behind Ronaldo, with total yearly income around $130 million including endorsements. Fresh off a contract extension to 2028 and an MLS Cup triumph, Messi's transforming the Herons into a powerhouse.
Messi's Miami Pay Packet: £60m+ a Year to Keep the Magic Going Pink!
Picture this: you're propping up the bar, pint in hand, when your mate asks what it'd cost to sign the greatest footballer ever. Jorge Mas, owner of Inter Miami, just dropped the bombshell – it's a cool $70-80 million a year just for Lionel Messi. Blimey, that's enough to buy a small country, or at least kit out the local non-league side for a decade.
Mas let slip this nugget in a chat reported by Bloomberg, explaining why he needs top-drawer sponsors to bankroll the dream. 'Players are expensive,' he quipped, before praising Messi as 'worth every penny'. No kidding – the eight-time Ballon d'Or king has transformed the Herons from also-rans to trophy hunters.
Breaking Down the Bonkers Bucks
Let's unpack this beast of a contract. Messi's base pay in MLS sits at $12 million, with guaranteed comp hitting $20.4 million, per the players' association figures from last autumn. But that's just the tip of the iceberg – it skips the juicy bits like his equity stake, bonuses, and part-ownership deal post-retirement.
The full whack from Inter Miami? Around that $80 million mark annually, making him the world's second-highest earner on the pitch, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo's whopping $230 million with Al-Nassr. Factor in off-field goldmines from Adidas, Lay's and Mastercard, and Forbes pegs Messi's total haul at $130 million a year. Ronaldo edges it overall at $280 million, but who's counting when you're sipping mate in Florida?
Messi rocked up in summer 2023 on a $150 million two-and-a-half-year deal, averaging $60 million a pop, signing bonus included. Since then? Leagues Cup glory in '23, Supporters' Shield in '24, and – get this – their first MLS Cup crown mere months after penning a fresh three-year extension on 23 October, tying him to the club until 2028, the Nu Stadium opener, and his 41st birthday.
From GOAT to Pink Army General
What a ride for the World Cup-winning Argentine wizard. Captaining Inter Miami, he's not just scoring screamers; he's building a dynasty. That extension came hot on the heels of dragging the Herons to silverware, proving the investment's paying dividends faster than a dodgy bookie's tip.
Mas's sponsor plea makes sense – world-class talent demands world-class cash. Yet, with Messi turning Miami into MLS's must-watch show, ticket sales, merch and global eyes are flooding in. It's a virtuous circle: pay big, win big, rake in bigger.
Ronaldo's Saudi riches might top the charts, but Messi's doing it with style – beach vibes, packed stands at Chase Stadium, and trophies that matter stateside. At 38, he's still bending it like no other, leaving defenders in knots and owners grinning ear-to-ear.
As Inter Miami gear up for more silver chases, one thing's clear: for $80 million a year, Messi's not just a player; he's the franchise. Fancy joining the party? Grab your pink scarf – the Herons are flying high, and the bill's on the sponsors.
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