**Getty Images Sport** Donny Afroni Mar 08, 2026 14:16+06:00 **Revealed: How Lionel Messi is paid $80m a year by Inter Miami co-owner** Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has pulled back the curtain on the staggering financial package that keeps Lionel Messi in South Florida, revealing the Argentine icon takes home **between $70 million and $80 million per year**. The eye-watering figure, which includes the World Cup winner's ownership shares, highlights the unprecedented investment required to bring the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient to Major League Soccer. **Messi has shifted the landscape of North American football** The revelation comes as the Herons continue to transform the landscape of North American soccer both on and off the pitch. Messi, who arrived in the summer of 2023 and recently extended his stay through 2028, remains the **comfortably highest-paid player in the history of the league**. While his base salary and guaranteed compensation are public record through the MLS Players Association, the total package described by Mas incorporates various revenue streams that have turned the veteran playmaker into a literal partner of the franchise he represents. **Advertisement** Getty **The breakdown of a record-breaking contract** As the club prepares to move into its new Nu Stadium home, Mas emphasized that such astronomical costs necessitate **"world-class" sponsorship deals** to balance the books. "The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world-class is because players are expensive," Mas told Bloomberg. **"I pay Messi - worth every penny - but it's $70m to $80m a year. Across everything."** This total far exceeds the **$20,446,667** in guaranteed compensation officially listed by the MLSPA. The discrepancy is accounted for by Messi's unique equity in the club and lucrative side-deals that have become the blueprint for future superstar arrivals in the United States. Beyond the direct payments from the club, Messi’s financial empire in Miami is bolstered by **league-wide partnerships**. He benefits from a massive endorsement deal with adidas and a ground-breaking revenue-sharing agreement with Apple. **Strategic planning behind Messi miracle** The signing of Messi was the result of **years of meticulous preparation**. Xavier Asensi, the club’s president of business operations, revealed the organization was pivoting toward this moment as early as 2021. Sponsorship contracts included clauses that would automatically trigger should a player of Messi’s stature join. **"I don't believe in luck,"** Asensi told ESPN. **"A real example is when we signed the main jersey sponsorship agreement in 2021. I included a clause stating that if the club signed a player who had won at least five Ballon d'Or awards, the sponsorship cost would double."** **ENJOYED THIS STORY?** Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting Getty Images Sport **On-field success driving a billion-dollar valuation** The investment has yielded immediate dividends, propelling Inter Miami to a **valuation of $1.45 billion**—a 22% increase in one year, making them the most valuable franchise in MLS history. Asensi is clear that the financial growth is intrinsically linked to the **trophies Messi has delivered**: the Leagues Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and qualification for the Club World Cup. Reflecting on the captain's impact, Asensi said the change has been **"night and day, black and white."** **"Why have we grown? Because we've won,"** he explained. **"Leo changes everything for the better... Lionel's presence on the pitch, along with everything that has surrounded him, has allowed the club to perform better. As a football club, we depend on what happens on the pitch."**
Inside Lionel Messi's $80m-a-Year Inter Miami Deal: Who's Really Footing the Bill?
