How Lionel Messi Became a Billionaire Soccer Star

Updated July 15, 2026, 2:20 p.m. ET

Editor’s note: You can follow our LIVE updates for the England vs Argentina match by checking the linked live coverage.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Imagine a person who has been one of the best players in a game for more than 20 years. That’s Lionel Messi! Because he has been so good for so long, he has also become very rich.

• He is 39 years old.
• He started playing professional soccer way back in 2004.
• Many people think he is the greatest soccer player ever.
• He has already won almost every trophy you can win for his clubs and his country.

Big Game Against England

Messi will lead his country, Argentina, into the World Cup semifinal against England on Wednesday, July 15.

• This is a huge game to decide who goes to the final.
• It would be Messi’s third time reaching the final in his career if they win.

Messi’s Soccer Journey

Let’s look at where Messi has played:

1. He spent 17 seasons with a team called Barcelona.
2. In 2021, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in France.
3. After two years there, he moved to the USA in 2023 to play for Inter Miami in MLS (Major League Soccer).

Messi Is Now a Billionaire!

Important Point: According to Forbes, Messi is now a billionaire with a net worth of $1.1 billion! This means all the money and things he owns are worth that much.

He reached this rare money level for a sports player because of:

• His salaries (the money he gets paid to play)
• Endorsements (deals where companies pay him to promote their stuff)

His wealth has kept growing since he moved to Florida (where Inter Miami is).

How Much Does He Earn in the USA?

Even though soccer in the USA is called MLS, Messi is the highest-paid player there.

• His guaranteed salary in 2026 is $28.3 million.
• But that is just a small piece of his money!

Here is the rest:

• He owns a part of Inter Miami (like having a slice of the team).
• The team owner said Messi gets about $70–80 million per year from the club.
• He also has separate deals with Fanatics and Apple:
  • Fanatics sells league merch (cool shirts and stuff).
  • Apple streams the games online.
  • Messi gets paid when people buy merch or subscribe to watch.

Summary

Lionel Messi is a 39-year-old soccer legend who has played since 2004 and is considered by many as the greatest ever. He now plays for Inter Miami in the USA after Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. He is a billionaire worth $1.1 billion thanks to his huge salaries, team ownership, and company deals. He is leading Argentina in the World Cup semifinal against England on July 15, hoping to reach his third final.

FAQ

1. What is a billionaire?
A billionaire is someone whose total money and belongings are worth at least one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000).

2. What does "net worth" mean?
It means everything you own minus everything you owe. For Messi, it is $1.1 billion.

3. Why does Messi get money from Apple and Fanatics?
Because he has special deals: Apple pays him when people watch soccer through their service, and Fanatics pays him when people buy league merchandise.

4. How old is Messi and when did he start playing?
He is 39 years old and started his pro career in 2004.