Messi’s Miami Pay Revealed, $80m Annually With Equity Stake

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas has revealed the full financial scope of Lionel Messi’s groundbreaking deal, disclosing that the superstar’s total compensation package with the club ranges from $70 million to $80 million annually. This figure significantly exceeds his reported playing salary, primarily due to a unique ownership equity stake.

While Messi’s base salary is $12 million, rising to $20.45 million with guaranteed bonuses, Mas’s comments to Bloomberg clarify that the bulk of his earnings come from an estimated $50 million to $60 million per year in club ownership equity. This stake, which vests upon his retirement, dramatically boosts his annual earnings on paper and has grown as Inter Miami’s valuation soared from $585 million to $1.35 billion since his arrival.

“I pay Messi — worth every penny — but it’s $70 million to $80 million a year. Across everything,” Mas stated, highlighting the complex financial architecture required for the deal.

Messi’s contract also includes lucrative separate partnerships with Fanatics and Apple, with the latter reportedly offering a revenue-sharing agreement tied to MLS Season Pass subscribers. These external deals further augment his overall income in the United States, making his total annual earnings likely even higher than the club’s compensation.

This innovative deal, reminiscent of David Beckham’s pioneering contract, has not only secured the world’s greatest player but also fundamentally transformed the financial landscape of Major League Soccer.