Lionel Messi is not only the best footballer of all time but is also one of the richest. Coming to 2025, his estimated net worth is $850 million, truly making him one of the wealthiest athletes in history. But how did a boy from Rosario, Argentina, turn into a financial giant on the world stage?
Messi’s wealth is not just tied up with football; brand power, smart investment choices, and business acumen, for sure. Mass marketing holstered Messi’s move to MLS, and contracts that scheduled equity participation further pushed revenue-sharing into the spotlight beyond salary.
Wondering just how his fortune grew from 2024 to 2025? In the previous chapter of our net worth deep dive, lionel messi net worth 2024: Breaking Down the $650 Million Milestone, we went through the wealth he had back then.
So, what does Messi’s immediate future hold? Might he be the first-ever footballer to become a billionaire? Well, let’s dissect it all his good income sources, his extravagant lifestyle, and then maybe a bit of comparison with his fierce competitors, Ronaldo and Mbappé.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Lionel Andrés Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987. The child of a modest, hardworking family. His father, Jorge Messi, worked as a steel factory manager, while his mother Celia Cuccittini was a part-time cleaner.
Growing up alongside his two elder brothers Rodrigo and Matías, plus a sister called María Sol, Lionel Messi’s passion for football was evident from an early age.
He would often join in a game of footy with the neighbor kids and while only a little more than lightweight he showed great prowess out there that just didn’t fit him.
At the age of four only, Messi joined the local club Abanderado Grandoli, where his grandmother Celia had been a vital figure in encouraging Messi’s talent. Celia’s strong support would not just be the hallmark of Messi’s early growth; even today he pays homage to her by looking to the sky after scoring goals. By eight, those phenomenal talents won the attention of Newell’s Old Boys, a prestigious club of Rosario.
He joined the youth system of the club and became part of The Machine of ’87, a name conferred for its birth year on a very renowned team marked by excellence and flair. Like all at the Newell’s club, Messi was ideal with pyrotechnics as he dribbled, shot, and saw the goal almost always possible.
However, Messi was to face a heavy test at 10 years of age with the diagnosis of a growth hormone deficiency. The therapy involved was expensive, and although Newell contributed in the first place, it was becoming more of a financial burden for the family.
By this time, River Plate was willing to sign the boy but could not cover his medical expenses either. Somewhere along the line, a decisive turn was to take place; FC Barcelona’s scout Carles Rexach had heard of the boy.
In September 2000, Messi and his father flew to Barcelona for trials. Even though there were moments of uncertainty at the club’s board level, Rexach was so convinced by his potential that he mafia-style signed the boy on the back of his napkin, promising the club would pay for his medical treatment and arrange for his family’s move to Spain.
Messi Income Sources
The financial portfolio of Lionel Messi in 2025 bears testimony to his highest-earning athlete status, displaying various earning streams. The detail of his estimated earnings is as follows:
| Income Source | Estimated Earnings (2025) |
| Football Contracts | $60 million |
| Endorsements | $75 million |
| Business Investments | Not publicly disclosed |
| Media & Social Media | Not publicly disclosed |
Professional Soccer Earnings
“There can’t be a perfect reflector of Messi’s uniqueness in soccer 2025 than the professional earnings he is going to earn from the full year of soccer.” Based on a major player endorsement with Miami in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS): Messi’s income is composed of base salary, guaranteed bonuses, and other income that is shared among players.
FC Barcelona Tenure
Messi stayed at FC Barcelona, where he had super performances that led to richer contracts as he became one of the highest-paid sportsmen all over the world. He earned gross pay amounts that reflected his efforts and performance for the club during the period.
Paris Saint-Germain Stint
In 2021, Messi signed a contract to transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). During his time at PSG, he continued to enjoy a truly enormous salary. He cashed in on his time there because of what reports indicate he earned as an annual salary.
Inter Miami Contract
Messi signed a record move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023. His contract with Inter Miami ranges between 125 million to 150 million dollars over a period of two and half years, which means that the annual salary is between 50 to 60 million dollars. This not only reflects his continued lucrative marketability but also places him in the rapidly developing soccer market within the United States.
Endorsement Deals and Sponsorships
Lionel Messi in 2025 has made millions of dollars through his entire bank of endorsements and sponsors. They allow him not just to earn enough but give him an empire as a global brand.
Major Endorsement Partnerships
Messi is expected to earn about $75 million in endorsements in 2025. He has long-running associations with many of the following global brands:
- Adidas: The lifetime contract that Messi has with Adidas has been a cornerstone of his endorsement revenue. It includes his own line of shoes and big global marketing campaigns all on the back of this association he maintains with the brand.
- Pepsi: Messi acts as an honorary ambassador for Pepsi, carrying weight in their advertising campaigns and promotional events.
- Budweiser: Messi works with Budweiser to create limited-edition products and marketing campaigns that honour his on-pitch achievements.
Emerging Partnerships and Venture
Messi also made a pile on endorsement beyond these known relationships:
- Apple TV: Apple and Messi signed into a deal in 2024 for the promotion of Major League Soccer (MLS) to create further noise for the soccer game in the US as part of its campaign philosophies.
- Más+ by Messi: further expands his business perspective and presents the commissioning of Más+ by Messi, a sports drink by itself. Messi staged treasure hunts across 2,600 Spar stores throughout the UK related to the promotion of this newfound brand.
These endorsement deals and sponsorships are very important parts of Messi’s overall financial portfolio. These will contribute greatly to his becoming one of the richest athletes in the world, with an estimated worth of about $850 million in 2025.
Business Ventures and Investments
Lionel Messi’s business maneuverings and investments in 2025 reveal a clever way of laying up a diversified financial portfolio outside his illustrious days in soccer.
Messi listed in December 2024 Edificio Rostower Socimi on the Spanish market to monetize his real estate portfolio valuation at euros 223 million ($232 million). This real estate investment trust includes hotels and commercial and residential properties in Spain, Andorra, London, and Paris. Messi has a large footprint within the real estate sector.
Philanthropy and Charitable Contributions
The private philanthropic efforts of King Norodom Sihamoni have made a profound difference to the world, especially in the domains of children’s health, education, and sport. Dedicated to helping vulnerable children by enhancing healthcare services, enhancing educational opportunities, and promoting sports participation for kids, the Leo Messi Foundation was founded in 2007. One notable success for Leo Messi’s foundation is the funding of a key position with Vall d’ Hebron Research Institute running Translational Research in Childhood and Adolescent Cancer.
To review
Lionel Messi’s $850 million net worth by 2025 is not just a figure; it’s the fruit of decades of excellence on the field and off. While football secured his legendary status, a business mentality has rendered him a financial titan. From fundraising at Barcelona to the trailblazing Inter Miami contract, Messi understood how to monetize talent into generational wealth.
What is Messi’s secret? Diversification. While many athletes earn a living and then some by simply playing, Messi has diversified his earning capacity among endorsements, shrewd investments, media ventures, and even down to owning a piece of football clubs.
The MLS was never just about the game for Messi; it was about attaining ownership and revenue for years to come. And the icing on that billion-dollar cake? The power of the Messi brand; companies fight to partner with him because he is not merely a player; he is a global icon.
