Messi in Miami

By: Kirk Jackson

Lionel Messi is with Major League Soccer.

One of the biggest stories in the sports world, Messi signed with Inter Miami, and the agreement is worth up to $150 million over two-and-a-half years – before additional compensation from MLS partners Adidas and Apple.

Messi opted to move to MLS this summer rather than return to Barcelona or join other super stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia.

The Miami pact is the latest in a career of blockbuster paydays on and off the field. By the end of 2025, Messi’s career earnings will reach an estimated $1.6 billion, including playing salaries, bonuses and endorsements.

Messi’s tally ranks among the five highest in the history of sports. When thinking of these high marks, consider guys like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Messi is in that category along with his contemporary Ronaldo.

Footage courtesy of SportsHD.

Club Statistics:

As of match played 3 June 2023.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Barcelona C	2003–04	Tercera División	10	5	—		—		—		10	5
Barcelona B	2003–04	Segunda División B	5	0	—		—		—		5	0
	2004–05	Segunda División B	17	6	—		—		—		17	6
	Total		22	6	—		—		—		22	6
Barcelona	2004–05	La Liga	7	1	1	0	1	0	—		9	1
	2005–06	La Liga	17	6	2	1	6	1	0	0	25	8
	2006–07	La Liga	26	14	2	2	5	1	3^[c]	0	36	17
	2007–08	La Liga	28	10	3	0	9	6	—		40	16
	2008–09	La Liga	31	23	8	6	12	9	—		51	38
	2009–10	La Liga	35	34	3	1	11	8	4	4	53	47
	2010–11	La Liga	33	31	7	7	13	12	2	3	55	53
	2011–12	La Liga	37	50	7	3	11	14	5	6	60	73
	2012–13	La Liga	32	46	5	4	11	8	2	2	50	60
	2013–14	La Liga	31	28	6	5	7	8	2	0	46	41
	2014–15	La Liga	38	43	6	5	13	10	—		57	58
	2015–16	La Liga	33	26	5	5	7	6	4	4	49	41
	2016–17	La Liga	34	37	7	5	9	11	2	1	52	54
	2017–18	La Liga	36	34	6	4	10	6	2	1	54	45
	2018–19	La Liga	34	36	5	3	10	12	1	0	50	51
	2019–20	La Liga	33	25	2	2	8	3	1	1	44	31
	2020–21	La Liga	35	30	5	3	6	5	1	0	47	38
	Total		520	474	80	56	149	120	29	22	778	672
Paris Saint-Germain	2021–22	Ligue 1	26	6	1	0	7	5	—		34	11
	2022–23	Ligue 1	32	16	1	0	7	4	1	1	41	21
	Total		58	22	2	0	14	9	1	1	75	32
Inter Miami	2023	MLS	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Career total			610	507	82	56	163	129	30	23	885	715

Scroll from left to right.

List of Accomplishments:

Barcelona

La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain

Argentina U20

FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005

Argentina U23

Summer Olympics: 2008

Argentina

Individual

Ballon d’Or/FIFA Ballon d’Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019, 2022
European Golden Shoe: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
Copa América Top Goal scorer: 2021
La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
Pichichi Trophy: 2009−10, 2011–12, 2012−13, 2016–17, 2017−18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020, 2023
Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

More in Depth List of Accomplishments/Accolades:

The list of accolades, accomplishments, overall goatness is unprecedented. It’s obvious as to why Inter Miami, MLS, any team or league would covet one of sport’s greatest athletes to ever grace competition.

The acquisition of such, only increases the value and prestige of the organization or company.

What’s Messi’s motivation to taking this route, traveling to the United States to play professionally?

For a man, who achieved the highest feats, amidst the greatest levels of competition internationally, icing the cake so to speak, leading Argentina to victory, capturing the World Cup last year, what else is there for Messi to do?… but to earn money?

Estamos listos🔟 pic.twitter.com/CVUTH1IMMG
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 21, 2023

Messi’s Miami deal is worth between $50 million and $60 million per year from his salary, signing bonus and equity in the team.

He earned more than $100 million a year in playing salary and bonuses while at Barcelona. His pre-tax salary at Paris Saint-Germain the past two seasons was roughly $70 million annually, including bonuses.

Some may argue money isn’t the motivating factor that swayed Messi to Miami over some of the other potentially lucrative options.

The Argentine suited offers from other clubs, other leagues, and potentially could have earned a reported $400 million a year to play in the Saudi Professional League.

But the move to Miami is the planting of the seed.

If Messi can continue raise and improve upon his universal profile, starting with the United States, it may benefit his bank account, due to the revenue-sharing deals and team equity component in his contract.

Credit to Sportico, they valued Inter Miami at $585 million last year, but the value may increase to $1 billion once its new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, opens in 2025.

Messi also has more than a dozen ongoing brand endorsements, with Adidas the most lucrative. Other partners include Budweiser, Mastercard, Pepsi, Saudi Arabia tourism and Socios. He’s likely to attract more endorsements as he continues his career in the states.

Not exactly sure what the end game is, but the future looks bright for the living legend and those associated with him.