Global soccer superstar Lionel Messi is the highest-paid athlete and it’s not even close.
Over the weekend, Spanish newspaper El Mundo got their hands on Messi’s contract and it’s absolutely massive.
According to El Mundo’s report, Messi signed a 4-year €555,237,619 back in 2017 with an annual salary of €138 million which includes various bonuses.
Messi’s contract translates to $674 million and about $168 million/year in US dollars.
El Mundo today, what a bomb. Leo Messi’s contract with Barcelona revealed on front page 🔴👇🏻 @elmundoes
– €555,237,619 contract [4 years].
– €138m per season fixed + variables.
– €115,225,000 as ‘renewal fee’ just for accepting the contract.
– €77,929,955 loyalty bonus. pic.twitter.com/FK3I34hJta
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2021
“Patrick Mahomes getting paid! Like no other athlete.”- Americans
Leo Messi “Hold my beer” 🍺 pic.twitter.com/aRhYl1pVWo
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) January 31, 2021
Messi’s $168 million annual salary is higher than the combined salaries of Mike Trout ($35 million), Patrick Mahomes ($45 million), and LeBron James ($39 million).
Futbol > Football. Messi got a $674M contract for 4 years and mahomes got a $503M contract for 10 years 🤯 https://t.co/Ma2og3omYW
— hernesto’ (@Hernesto113) February 1, 2021
So Messi makes $168.5 million per year, pre tax. That’s roughly 4 times what LeBron makes in a year. pic.twitter.com/t0xdmyJrPr
— Keely Diven (@keelydiven) February 1, 2021
For my friends who don’t know the euros-to-dollar conversion:
Lionel Messi will have made $674 million within a four year span. Patrick Mahomes will make $503 over a TEN YEAR span. Messi will be making 3x(give or take) what Mahomes does annually https://t.co/5BbKXFMvt0— Kyle Leff (@KyleLeff) January 31, 2021