Messi joins billionaire club with a fortune estimated at $1.1 billion

Argentinian star Lionel Messi has entered the billionaire athletes list with a net worth of approximately $1.1 billion, according to estimates from Forbes. He becomes one of only four athletes to achieve this milestone during their sporting careers, alongside Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, American basketball star LeBron James, and golf legend Tiger Woods.

Fans have grown accustomed to seeing Lionel Messi at various stages of his career, from his rising talent at Barcelona, through years of brilliance and trophy wins, to leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, he has also succeeded in building a massive fortune away from the pitch, benefiting from playing contracts, endorsements, and investments.

According to a report by Hank Tucker in Forbes, Messi has joined a select group of athletes whose wealth has surpassed the billion-dollar mark before retirement, while David Beckham, his partner in the Inter Miami project, reached this milestone 13 years after retiring from football.

The report indicated that Lionel Messi's investments are still poised for expansion, as he has yet to take one of the most anticipated steps, which is acquiring a stake in the ownership of Inter Miami, the American club whose presence has contributed to increasing the club's value and enhancing its status in American football.