Soccer Legend Lionel Messi To Play for Inter Miami—Here’s Messi’s Net Worth
Superstar footballer Lionel Messi announced Wednesday he intends to play for Inter Miami, turning down offers from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia, in a move that shocked soccer fans around the world.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion is the second highest-paid athlete in the world as of 2023,and has earned an estimated $1.15 billion in his career so far, according to Forbes.
The legendary Argentine soccer player told Mundo Deportivo in an exclusive interview that though it is not 100% final, he has made the decision to go to Miami.
Fans aren’t waiting for a signed contract though—Inter Miami ticket prices soared within hours of Messi’s announcement, with tickets for Messi’s reported debut match jumping from $29 to $329 according to TickPick.
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami (a team part-owned by David Beckham) is the biggest boost for U.S. soccer since Beckham signed for Los Angeles’s Galaxy in 2007. Messi’s contract will reportedly be valued between $125 million and $150 million, including salary, bonuses, and equity in the team according to Miami Herald. MLS league sponsors Apple and Adidas are also working on separate deals with the soccer champion, according to theHerald.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami could mean a big win for AppleTV as well. Having one of the world’s best soccer players join an MLS team could make AppleTV Plus’ MLS Season Pass Subscription appeal to a broader, international audience, per The Verge.Messi might reportedly get a cut of the MLS Season Pass revenue from Apple too, according to The Athletic.
The bulk of Messi’s wealth comes from his career as a star soccer player. He is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of all time, winning the coveted Ballon D’Or award a record seven times.
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