In brief
- Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
- Forbes ranked him the third highest-paid athlete of 2026, with $140 million in earnings.
- His Inter Miami base salary is $25 million, with $28.3 million guaranteed.
- His Spanish property company reports about €223 million in assets.
As of October 2026, Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Forbes ranked him the world’s third highest-paid athlete in 2026, with $140 million in a year, split evenly between his Inter Miami pay and endorsements such as Adidas.
Messi, 39, is in the closing stage of his career. He led Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup, signed a contract extension to the end of the 2028 season and reached the 2026 World Cup final with Argentina.
What is Lionel Messi’s net worth in 2026?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Lionel Messi’s net worth at $1 billion. Some 2026 reports, citing Forbes, put it slightly higher at about $1.1 billion. Older figures, including the $600 million this page once carried, did not include his recent Inter Miami earnings or his property company.
Also readJake Paul Net Worth 2026: Fight Purses, Businesses and EarningsCelebrity Net Worth estimates his career earnings at more than $1.6 billion before tax, with about $900 million from salaries and bonuses and around $400 million from endorsements.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated net worth | $1 billion | Celebrity Net Worth, 2026 |
| Earnings, 12 months to May 2026 | $140 million | Forbes, 2026 |
| On-field and off-field split | About $70 million each | Forbes, 2026 |
| Inter Miami base salary | $25 million | MLS Players Association, 2026 |
| Inter Miami guaranteed pay | $28.3 million | MLS Players Association, 2026 |
| Spanish property company | €223 million in assets | Edificio Rostower Socimi filing |
How Lionel Messi made his money
Messi built his fortune over 17 seasons at Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances. His 2017 contract was one of the most valuable in football, with Celebrity Net Worth putting his average pay at about $160 million a year including bonuses.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021 on a two-year deal worth about $75 million a year before tax. In July 2023 he moved to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his deal also includes commercial terms linked to Apple and Adidas.
Endorsements have run alongside his playing career for two decades. Adidas has sponsored him since 2006 and his other partners include Hard Rock International and Royal Caribbean, which named him the official icon of its Icon of the Seas ship.
Salary and earnings
According to the MLS Players Association’s 2026 salary guide, Messi has a base salary of $25 million and guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million, the highest in MLS. These figures do not include commercial deals or his option to buy a stake in the club.
Forbes’s 2026 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes placed him third, behind Cristiano Ronaldo ($300 million) and boxer Canelo Álvarez ($170 million), with $140 million in total earnings.
Before choosing Miami in 2023, Messi turned down a reported offer from a Saudi Arabian club worth about $400 million a season, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He chose a lower base salary in MLS, with the gap partly made up by commercial terms linked to Apple and Adidas and the option of club equity.
For the full ranking of footballers, see our list of the highest-paid footballers in the world.
Inter Miami, MLS Cup and the 2026 World Cup
Messi was named MVP of the 2025 MLS Cup as Inter Miami won the MLS Cup for the first time. In October 2025 he signed an extension that keeps him at the club through the 2028 season.
At the 2026 World Cup in North America, he scored eight goals, including a hat-trick against Algeria, and finished second in the Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappé. Argentina reached the final but lost 1 to 0 to Spain, missing out on a second straight world title after their 2022 win in Qatar.
Assets: homes, hotels and investments
Much of Messi’s wealth is held in property. His company Edificio Rostower Socimi was listed in Spain in December 2024 and reports assets of about €223 million (about $232 million), including hotels, offices, shops and homes.
His MiM Hotels brand has six properties in Spain and Andorra, which Meliá Hotels International agreed to manage in 2025. His personal homes include:
- A family home in Castelldefels, near Barcelona, bought for about $2 million in 2009.
- A waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bought with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo for about $10.8 million.
- A floor of a condo building in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, bought for $7.3 million in 2021.
He also owns a car collection that has included a Ferrari F430 Spider.
Early life and career
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. His father worked in a steel factory and his mother worked part-time as a cleaner.
At 10 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Barcelona offered to pay for his treatment, and the family moved to Spain in February 2001. He made his first-team debut as a teenager and became the club’s all-time top scorer in 2012.
His honours include the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles, four Champions League titles with Barcelona and eight Ballon d’Or awards, the most of any player.
Family and personal life
Messi married Antonela Roccuzzo, whom he has known since childhood in Rosario, in 2017. The couple have three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, and live in the Miami area during the MLS season.
He supports children’s health and education through the Leo Messi Foundation and has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. For the career of his long-time rival, read our Cristiano Ronaldo net worth profile.
Sources: Celebrity Net Worth, Robb Report on the Forbes 2026 list, MLS salary report, Fox Sports, Siasat.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lionel Messi’s net worth in 2026?
Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth, with some reports citing Forbes at about $1.1 billion. His wealth comes from more than $1.6 billion in career earnings, endorsements such as Adidas, and a large Spanish property portfolio.
How much does Messi earn at Inter Miami?
The MLS Players Association’s 2026 salary guide lists Messi’s base salary at $25 million and guaranteed compensation at $28.3 million, the highest in MLS. His deal also includes commercial terms and an option to buy a stake in the club, which are not in those figures.
Is Lionel Messi a billionaire?
Most 2026 estimates put Messi at or just above $1 billion. Celebrity Net Worth estimates $1 billion, and reports citing Forbes put him at about $1.1 billion. These are estimates, as his full holdings and tax payments are not public.
How much did Messi earn in 2026?
Forbes estimated that Messi earned $140 million in the 12 months covered by its 2026 highest-paid athletes list, split roughly evenly between playing income and endorsements. That placed him third, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Canelo Álvarez.
Did Messi win the 2026 World Cup?
No. Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final but lost 1 to 0 to Spain. Messi scored eight goals at the tournament, including a hat-trick against Algeria, and finished second in the Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappé.
See more Wealthy Garage stories on Google
Add us as a preferred source and our stories will show up more often in your Top Stories.
Add Wealthy Garage as a preferred source on Google
