Lionel Messi Net Worth 2026: How He Became a Billionaire

For most of his career, Lionel Messi was known as the player who left money on the table. In 2026, it turns out he didn't leave much. Forbes now estimates Lionel Messi's net worth at $1.1 billionmaking him one of only four athletes to become a billionaire while still playing.

Here's how Messi's net worth was built: his playing contracts, his endorsements, the Inter Miami deal that could make him a club owner, and what everyday earners can take from it. All figures come from Forbes' June 2026 report on how Messi became a billionaire.

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Lionel Messi's net worth and earnings at a glance

	Figure
Net worth (Forbes estimate, 2026)	$1.1 billion
Earnings, last 12 months	$140 million (3rd among all athletes)
Split	About $70 million on the field, $70 million off it
Career playing contracts	About $1.2 billion before taxes and fees
Career total including endorsements	About $1.8 billion

Forbes says his fortune comes mainly from cash built up and invested over his career, plus an option to take an equity stake in Inter Miami after he retires.

Is Messi richer than Ronaldo?

Not quite. Forbes ranks Messi third on its 2026 highest-paid athletes list, while Cristiano Ronaldo tops it, and Forbes says only Ronaldo has earned more from playing contracts. Both joined the billionaire club while still active. Our Cristiano Ronaldo net worth guide breaks down his side of the rivalry.

How Messi made his money

1. Barcelona contracts

Messi joined Barcelona's academy at 13 and spent 17 seasons with the first team. His income took off with contract extensions over the following decade. Forbes notes a leaked deal for 2017 to 2021 showed a payday of roughly $177 million in the 2017-18 season alone.

2. Paris and then Miami

After two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi turned down a Saudi offer rumoured at up to $400 million a year and joined Inter Miami in 2023. His guaranteed MLS pay is $28.3 million this year, more than double the league's next-best figure, and Inter Miami's owner told Bloomberg he pays Messi "$70 million to $80 million a year" in total.

3. Endorsements

Forbes counts more than $600 million earned from endorsements, memorabilia and other business over his career. He has more than a dozen active partnerships, including Mastercard, Michelob Ultra and Lay's, and a lifetime deal with Adidas signed in 2017.

The Inter Miami deal that could be worth the most

Messi's biggest asset may be his own club. Forbes reports that Inter Miami's value rose from $600 million before he arrived to a league-high $1.35 billion in three years, and he has an option to earn equity in the team when he retires. In other words, he's set to share in growth he helped create.

He also invests outside soccer: a stake in a boutique hotel chain through a property company he launched in 2024, a restaurant chain partnership, and two soccer clubs of his own. Not everything works. Forbes says his sports drink is being phased out.

What Messi's money means for yours

Nobody's going to out-earn Messi, but the pattern behind his fortune is one anyone can copy on a small scale: steady income, several sources, and keeping what you earn long enough for it to grow.

• Start with something that pays from day one. Paid surveys and game offers need no audience or skills. Read do paid surveys actually pay for honest numbers.
• Stack small streams. A few small earners can reach $10 a dayand with a skill-based gig, $50 a day.
• Know the rules. Messi's own tax case is a reminder that income has to be reported properly. In the US, the IRS Gig Economy Tax Center explains what side income to report.

For another look at how big earners build wealth, see our MrBeast net worth breakdown.

How net worth estimates work

Net worth is everything someone owns minus what they owe. For an athlete, most of that is cash and investments built up over years, plus stakes in businesses that have no daily price. Earnings are different: they're what came in over a year, before taxes and costs. That's why Messi's $140 million a year and his $1.1 billion net worth are separate figures, and why sites quoting an exact number to the dollar are guessing.

Messi's money, step by step

1. Age 13: joins Barcelona's academy; the club pays for his growth hormone treatment.
2. 2004 to 2008: debuts for Barcelona's first team at 17, and first appears on Forbes' list of highest-paid soccer players in 2008 with an estimated $11.9 million.
3. 2017: signs a lifetime deal with Adidas, and a Barcelona contract that later showed a roughly $177 million payday in 2017-18.
4. 2021 to 2023: two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, then turns down a rumoured Saudi offer to join Inter Miami.
5. 2025: wins the MLS Cup with Inter Miami and signs a three-year extension.
6. 2026: Forbes ranks him third among the highest-paid athletes at $140 million and estimates his net worth at $1.1 billion.

Dates and figures from Forbes.

Why the Miami move paid off

On paper, Messi earned less by choosing Miami over Saudi Arabia. But Forbes estimates he still made about $70 million on the field this season, plus endorsements, and the club's value more than doubled after he arrived. With an option to earn equity, he gave up some salary for a share of something growing. That trade-off, a little less now for more later, is the same one ordinary savers face.

Curious how other stars compare? Read about Taylor Swift's net worthbuilt on music she owns.

Conclusion

Lionel Messi's net worth reached an estimated $1.1 billion in 2026 through two decades of top contracts, more than $600 million in endorsements and business, and a smart move to Miami that comes with a path to ownership. The everyday lesson is simpler: more than one source of income, kept and built on over time.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Lionel Messi's net worth in 2026?

Forbes estimates Messi's net worth at $1.1 billion, mainly from career earnings and investments plus an option to acquire equity in Inter Miami.

How much does Messi earn a year?

Forbes estimates he earned $140 million over the past 12 months, about $70 million on the field and $70 million from endorsements and business.

Is Messi a billionaire?

Yes, according to Forbes, which says he is one of only four athletes to become a billionaire while still active in their sport.

How much does Inter Miami pay Messi?

His guaranteed MLS compensation is $28.3 million this year, and Inter Miami's owner has said the total is $70 million to $80 million a year including other arrangements.