Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo share many things. The best known is the rivalry that will go down in football history during the years when they were the leaders of Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.
Now the Argentine star has another thing in common with the Portuguese star: he has joined him on the list of football billionaires.
Messi, 38, has accumulated more than US$700 million in salaries and bonuses since 2007, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Including other income such as sponsorships and investment revenue, his net worth has just surpassed the US$1 billion mark, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Before the Argentinian striker, Cristiano Ronaldo was the first soccer player to become a billionaire, after signing a mega-contract with Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Messi receives a multi-million dollar salary at his current club, Inter Miami, in addition to what he earns through a TV revenue-sharing agreement negotiated with Apple.
Bloomberg estimates that his total compensation should range between US$70 million and US$80 million per year playing for the MLS team, with whom he has a contract until 2028.
The Argentinian also earns income from his real estate investments and even a stake in an Argentinian restaurant chain, factors that have helped him reach a fortune exceeding $1 billion.
Bloomberg recalls that he could have reached this status right after winning the 2022 World Cup. However, Messi refused a $400 million contract from Saudi Arabia, double what his eternal rival in the Saudi League earns.