Lionel Messi Net Worth

Lionel Messi has an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Lionel Messi profile (figures as of October 20, 2026).

Lionel Messi is an Argentine soccer player known for standout runs with Barcelona, the Argentina national team, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. He moved to Barcelona at age 13 to join the club's youth program and made his senior debut in 2004. During his Barcelona years, he became the club's captain in 2018 and won a club-record 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions Leagues. He later moved to the United States with Inter Miami in 2023.

Messi's fortune comes from a rare mix of player pay and major commercial deals. Forbes says he earned $140 million in the 12 months to May 2026. That total was split between $70 million from salary, winnings and bonuses and $70 million from endorsements and business. Forbes also notes that he has a lifetime Adidas deal. His 2023 move to Inter Miami added another business piece, with the option to acquire an equity stake in the team when he retires.

How Lionel Messi makes money

Messi built his wealth first through elite soccer contracts. His career moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain and then to Inter Miami, keeping him at the center of the sport for many years. Forbes reported $140 million in total earnings for the 12 months to May 2026. Of that amount, $70 million came from salary, winnings and bonuses. That on-field pay remains a huge part of his financial picture, even late in his playing career.

Away from matches, Messi has turned global fame into a major business stream. Forbes says another $70 million of his recent earnings came from endorsements and business. A lifetime Adidas deal is one of the biggest pieces of that off-field portfolio. His Inter Miami agreement also included the option to acquire an equity stake in the club when he retires. That gives him a path to future value beyond sponsorships and playing income.

Forbes money picture

Forbes placed Messi at $1.1 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker in October 2026. Forbes also says he had earned an estimated $1.9 billion on and off the field through 2026, before taxes and agents' fees. Those numbers point to a career that combined top-tier athlete compensation with unusual staying power in the endorsement market. Instead of relying on one short peak, he kept earning at a very high level across different clubs and markets.

His career highlights helped support that financial strength. Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 after falling short in his first 4 tries in that tournament. He then moved to Inter Miami in 2023, where his deal carried added business value through the future equity option. Forbes describes him as a global superstar known mainly for Barcelona and Argentina, and that reach has helped drive both his commercial appeal and his long-term earning power.