According to Forbes, Lionel Messi net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion as of 2026. That figure, published in Forbes’ June 2026 billionaire report, makes the Inter Miami forward one of only four athletes ever to become a billionaire while still playing. Messi has earned roughly $1.8 billion before taxes across his career, and he took home about $140 million over the last 12 months, split evenly between football and business.
This guide covers the full picture of Messi’s net worth: where the money comes from, how he compares with Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2026 list of the richest footballers in the world, his career numbers, and the emotional farewell he played for Argentina last night in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi Net Worth 2026
According to Forbes, Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion as of 2026. Forbes’ live profile still shows $1.1B today, 7 October 2026. This makes him one of only four athletes in history to become a billionaire while still actively playing.
Key Figures
| Category | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net worth | $1.1 billion | Forbes, June 2026 |
| Career earnings (pre-tax, before agents’ fees) | ~$1.8 billion | Forbes profile |
| Recent 12-month earnings | ~$140 million | Forbes 2026 highest-paid athletes |
| On-field earnings (last 12 months) | ~$70 million | Forbes |
| Off-field earnings (last 12 months) | ~$70 million | Forbes |
| Inter Miami guaranteed compensation (2026) | $28.3 million ($25m base) | MLS Players Association |
| Status | One of 4 athletes to become a billionaire while active | Forbes |
Income breakdown
- Playing contracts: ~$1.2 billion. Salaries and bonuses from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami make up the largest slice of his career earnings, CNBC-TV18 reports, citing Forbes via Reuters.
- Endorsements and business: over $600 million. This includes his lifetime Adidas deal, other sponsors, memorabilia and business ventures.
- Last 12 months: $70 million on the field plus $70 million off it, for about $140 million in total. That ranks him third on Forbes’ 2026 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes.
- Inter Miami salary: the MLS Players Association’s 2026 salary guide lists a $25 million base salary and $28,333,333 in guaranteed compensation, the highest in MLS. That figure covers only the playing side of his deal. His commercial arrangements tied to Apple and Adidas sit on top of it.
The billionaire context
Messi became a billionaire in 2026 and is one of only four athletes, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, to reach that status while still competing. Forbes also ranks him as the fifth-richest person from Argentina. He has been among the world’s five highest-paid athletes for 13 years in a row.
How does Forbes get from $1.8 billion in earnings to a $1.1 billion net worth? It starts with gross career income, then takes off estimated taxes, agents’ fees and living costs. It then adds back the growth in value of what he has bought and invested in. Forbes says his wealth comes “primarily from cash accumulation and appreciation throughout his career, plus an option to acquire an equity stake in Inter Miami after he retires.” That is why net worth is always lower than career earnings.
Assets snapshot
Forbes is clear that the $1.1 billion is not a pile of cash in a bank. His fortune includes cash savings built over two decades of top-level pay, a large real estate portfolio in Spain and South Florida, hotel investments through the MiM Hotels business, and an option to acquire equity in Inter Miami after he retires. That last item is one of the most valuable pieces. Inter Miami has become one of the most valuable clubs in MLS since he arrived in 2023.
Best sources for Messi’s net worth
| Rank | Source | Why it matters | Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forbes | Highest authority, with a published methodology for athlete wealth | $1.1 billion |
| 2 | Major outlets citing Forbes: USA Today, Sporting News, CNBC-TV18 | Wide coverage and timely confirmation of the Forbes number | $1.1 billion |
| 3 | Celebrity Net Worth | An independent alternative estimate for comparison | $1 billion |
The two estimates are close. The $100 million gap mostly comes down to how each outlet values his Inter Miami equity rights and property holdings. Most people searching “Messi net worth” will see the Forbes number quoted, because it is the one news outlets repeat.
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Messi’s Farewell Match: Argentina 3-0 Benin, the Messi Retirement Match (“The Last Tango”)
Yesterday, Tuesday 6 October 2026, Messi played his last game for Argentina. The farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires was billed as “The Last Tango”. Argentina won the friendly 3-0, and Messi was involved in all three goals, BBC Sport and ESPN report.
- 48′: Messi assisted Nicolás Otamendi, who was also playing his final international.
- 61′: Messi set up Nico Paz, the player many see as Argentina’s next No. 10.
- 71′: Messi scored from the penalty spot, firing into the top corner, for his 126th and final Argentina goal.
The 39-year-old played the full 90 minutes of his 208th cap, in front of a sell-out crowd of about 85,000. Tickets reportedly sold out in 90 minutes, and ESPN says resale prices passed $2,500. Thousands of fans lined the route of the team bus. Afterwards came a laser show, live music, tributes from Argentina’s 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup squads, and a speech from Messi lasting nearly ten minutes. “I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life,” he told the crowd, AFP reports.
Messi announced his international retirement in August, a few weeks after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain. He is not hanging up his boots completely. His Inter Miami contract runs to the end of the 2028 MLS season. The Messi retirement match ends a 21-year international career that brought one World Cup, two Copa América titles and the Finalissima, as Al Jazeera recounts.
His final international record shows how much Argentina will miss him: 208 caps, more than any other Argentine, and 126 goals, second only to Ronaldo in men’s international football. Assist counts vary by provider. Sports Mole has him on 67, Sportstar on 69, and other counts reach 70.
For fans following his next steps with Inter Miami, you can compare football betting markets on 8xbet, including MLS and international friendlies. 18+ only, and please bet responsibly.
READ MORE: 8xbet vs SportyBet: Which Is Better in Nigeria 2026?
How Messi’s Salary Grew: Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami
Messi’s fortune was built club by club, and each move changed the size of his pay.
- Barcelona (2004-2021): his peak contract, signed in 2017, was one of the richest in sports history. Celebrity Net Worth puts the average at around $168 million a year before bonuses. Most of his ~$1.2 billion in playing income was earned in this era.
- Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023): a two-year deal reported at roughly $75 million a year before tax kept him among the world’s top earners after leaving Spain.
- Inter Miami (2023-present): his first MLS contract in July 2023 carried a $12 million base salary and $20.4 million in annual guaranteed compensation, AP reports. He signed an extension through 2028 in October 2025, then led the club to its first MLS Cup. His base pay more than doubled to $25 million in 2026, and he now earns more than the entire payrolls of 28 of the other 29 MLS clubs.
The Miami move was smaller on the salary line but bigger on everything else. The equity option, the revenue-sharing arrangements with Apple and Adidas, and a growing role in American business are why Forbes counts Inter Miami as a real asset in his net worth, not just a pay cheque. ESPN notes the MLSPA figure “reflects just the playing portion” of his compensation, so his true Inter Miami income is higher than the headline $28.3 million.
This matters for anyone trying to work out Lionel Messi’s net worth in naira or dollars. Salary is only part of it. The assets he has built off the back of that salary, from property to hotels to a future stake in a fast-growing club, are what pushed him past $1 billion.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Net Worth and Earnings Compared
The football rivalry of the century now carries over to the Forbes billionaires list. Both men joined it on the same day in June 2026. Here is how the money compares:
| Metric | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Net worth (Forbes, 2026) | $1.1 billion | $1.2 billion |
| Career earnings (pre-tax) | ~$1.8 billion | Over $2 billion (first active athlete to pass it) |
| Last 12 months | $140 million (3rd on Forbes list) | $300 million (1st on Forbes list) |
| On-field / off-field (12 months) | $70m / $70m | $235m / $65m |
| Club | Inter Miami (MLS) | Al-Nassr (Saudi Pro League) |
| Celebrity Net Worth estimate | $1 billion | $1.2 billion |
The key difference is salary. Al-Nassr pays Ronaldo more than $200 million a year, while Messi’s MLS deal is far smaller on paper. Messi’s off-field income, though, is slightly higher than Ronaldo’s, and his Inter Miami equity option could narrow the gap after he retires.
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Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World 2026
So who is the richest footballer in the world? Going by verified Forbes figures, it is Cristiano Ronaldo at $1.2 billion, just ahead of Messi. Forbes only publishes net worth for billionaires, so the rest of this top 10 of the richest footballers uses Celebrity Net Worth estimates, which are rougher.
| # | Player | Estimated net worth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | $1.2 billion | Forbes |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | $1.1 billion | Forbes |
| 3 | David Beckham (retired) | $1 billion | Forbes |
| 4 | Neymar | $450 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 5 | Karim Benzema | $350 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappé | $250 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 7 | Dave Whelan (retired, businessman) | $210 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 8 | Zlatan Ibrahimović (retired) | $190 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 9 | Ronaldo Nazário (retired) | $160 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
| 10 | Gareth Bale (retired) | $145 million | Celebrity Net Worth |
A note on Faiq Bolkiah: some lists name the Brunei international, a nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, as the richest player in the world with up to $20 billion. That figure is family wealth, has never been verified by Forbes, and is not money he earned from football. So we leave him out of the ranking. Beckham’s billionaire status comes largely from his stake in Inter Miami, the club Messi plays for.
How the Richest Footballer List Has Changed, 2021-2026
Searches like “richest footballer in the world 2021” or “top 10 richest footballers 2024” often point to old lists. Forbes’ annual football lists rank earnings, not net worth, and that is the most reliable way to track who was on top each year:
| Year | Highest-paid footballer (Forbes) | Messi’s earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cristiano Ronaldo, $125m | $110m (2nd) |
| 2022 | Kylian Mbappé, $128m | $110m (2nd) |
| 2023 | Cristiano Ronaldo, $260m | $135m (2nd) |
| 2024 | Cristiano Ronaldo, $285m | $135m (2nd) |
| 2026 | Cristiano Ronaldo, $300m | $140m (2nd among footballers) |
The big shift came in 2023, when Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia more than doubled his pay. Mbappé’s 2022 spot at the top is the only year since 2021 when neither Messi nor Ronaldo led. Both men turned years of earnings like these into billion-dollar net worths by 2026.
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Messi Career Stats: Goals, Assists, Trophies and Age
Messi’s money follows from his numbers on the pitch, which are among the best in football history. Here are his key career stats as of 7 October 2026:
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Born / Messi age | 24 June 1987, Rosario, Argentina (39 years old) |
| Career goals (club + country) | 932 in 1,178 games (MessiStats) |
| Career assists | 426 (MessiStats) |
| Barcelona goals | 672 |
| Lionel Messi PSG goals | 32 in 75 games (2021-2023) |
| Argentina goals / caps | 126 / 208 |
| Messi World Cup goals 2022 | 7 (plus the Golden Ball) |
| Champions League titles | 4 (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015) |
| European Golden Shoes | 6, a record |
| Ballon d’Or | 8, a record |
| Transfermarkt market value | €15 million (last updated 2 June 2026) |
From 900 to Lionel Messi’s 910 goals and beyond
Messi scored his 900th official goal on 18 March 2026 against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. That made him only the second man after Ronaldo to reach the mark. He hit career goal No. 910 against the Portland Timbers on 17 May 2026, Bolavip reports. More goals for Inter Miami and Argentina since then, including last night’s penalty against Benin, have taken him to 932 by MessiStats’ count. The race with Ronaldo to 1,000 goals is still on.
Messi at PSG and in Europe
Lionel Messi’s PSG spell from 2021 to 2023 brought two Ligue 1 titles and 32 goals, a modest return by his standards. Most of his records were set at Barcelona: 672 goals, four Champions League titles and all six of his Golden Shoes, won in 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Messi at the World Cup
Messi’s World Cup story peaked in Qatar 2022. He scored seven goals in seven matches, including two in the final against France, and became the first player to win the Golden Ball twice, BBC Sport reports. In 2026 he took Argentina to another final, beating England in the semi-final before the loss to Spain.
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Ronaldinho Net Worth
Ronaldinho, Messi’s early mentor at Barcelona, has an estimated net worth of about $90 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Some other trackers go as high as $110-140 million, but those figures are unofficial. The comparison shows how much football money has grown in one generation. The Brazilian was the world’s best player in the mid-2000s, yet Messi now has more than ten times his estimated fortune. Most of that came from contracts and endorsement deals that were far bigger by the 2010s.
What Messi’s Wealth Means for Fans and Bettors
Messi’s net worth is a talking point, but it has nothing to do with his form. What matters for match predictions is his minutes, his fitness at 39, and Inter Miami’s run-in. If you bet on MLS or on Argentina’s next era without him, do your homework first.
Our guide to the best and most reliable betting sites in Nigeria explains what to check before signing up anywhere, and 8X Bet offers markets on Inter Miami matches. Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Set a budget and never chase losses.
FAQ
Do Barcelona still owe Messi money?
No. Barcelona deferred part of Messi’s wages during the pandemic and paid them back in instalments. The final payment was made in June 2025, which settled a deferred-wage debt of roughly €48 million, according to Goal and AS.
Was Messi rich when he was small?
No. Messi was born into a working-class family in Rosario: his father worked in a steel factory and his mother as a part-time cleaner. At 10 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that his family could not afford to treat long-term. Barcelona agreed to help pay for the treatment when he moved to Spain in 2001, Celebrity Net Worth recounts.
Is Jay Z richer than Messi?
Yes. Forbes estimates Jay-Z’s net worth at $2.8 billion in 2026, mostly thanks to his liquor brands, including Armand de Brignac and D’Ussé. That is about two and a half times Messi’s $1.1 billion.
Is Messi a legal US citizen?
No, Messi is not a US citizen. He holds Argentine and Spanish citizenship, and he lives and works in Florida legally as an Inter Miami player. Analysis of his case points to US work-visa routes for elite athletes rather than citizenship, according to this immigration explainer.
