Inter Miami reveals Messi's earnings: 'Every penny spent is justified'

Lionel Messi is receiving immense compensation at Inter Miami, with club earnings of approximately 70–80 million USD annually, contributing to the Argentine superstar's total income reaching 130 million USD.

Possessing one of football history's greatest players like Lionel Messi is clearly not cheap. According to Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, the American club must spend up to about 70–80 million USD each year to retain the Argentine superstar.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Jorge Mas stated that this substantial expenditure is essential for any club aiming to compete at the highest level: “The reason I need world-class sponsors is because players are very expensive. I pay Messi, and he deserves every dollar, around 70 to 80 million USD per year, including all components,” Mas said.

However, the Inter Miami president did not disclose details of Messi's contract structure. According to MLS Players Association salary guidelines released last October, the 38-year-old superstar leads the league with a base salary of 12 million USD and guaranteed total earnings of 20.4 million USD annually. These figures were announced before Messi signed a three-year extension with Inter Miami and only include direct salary from MLS.

In reality, Messi's contract also includes various separate agreements with Inter Miami, such as bonuses, commercial rights, and notably, equity in the club. Under the agreement, the 2022 World Cup champion will become a co-owner of the team after retiring.

With earnings of about 80 million USD per year from Inter Miami, Messi is currently the world's second-highest earning on-field player, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo – who reportedly receives around 230 million USD annually from Al-Nassr.

Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year contract valued at approximately 150 million USD, equivalent to 60 million USD per year, including signing bonuses and club equity. Shortly after arriving at the Florida-based team, the Argentine superstar quickly made a significant impact by helping Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.

On October 23, Messi further signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2028 season, which is also when Inter Miami plans to inaugurate its new stadium at Miami Freedom Park, coinciding with the year he turns 41. Less than two months after the extension, Messi led Inter Miami to win the club's first MLS Cup title in its history.

According to Forbes' annual report published in October, Messi's total annual income is estimated to be around 130 million USD. Approximately 70 million USD of this comes from advertising and sponsorship deals with major brands like Adidas, Lay’s, and Mastercard.

Nevertheless, Messi still ranks behind Cristiano Ronaldo in global total earnings. The Portuguese superstar is estimated to earn about 280 million USD each year, with around 50 million USD coming from off-field activities.