Lionel Messi Net Worth: Life Without the GOATs Ain’t Easy

Lionel Messi net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion, according to Forbes. Within one week in November 2026, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo said goodbye to international football, and both of their countries lost their first games without them. Argentina fell 1-2 to Uruguay at La Bombonera, and Portugal fell 4-1 to Denmark in Braga. In short, life without the GOATs ain’t easy, and the weekend proved it in the cruellest way possible.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• Lionel Messi net worth: $1.1 billion, according to Forbes (June 2026); Celebrity Net Worth puts it at $1 billion.
• Messi earned about $140 million in the year to June 2026: $70 million on the field and $70 million off it.
• Messi retired from international football in October 2026 after 207 caps and 125 goals for Argentina.
• Ronaldo retired from international football in November 2026 after 234 caps and a men’s record 146 goals for Portugal.
• Argentina lost 1-2 to Uruguay and Portugal lost 4-1 to Denmark in their first games without the two greats.

Lionel Messi Net Worth: The $1.1 Billion Figure

Forbes estimated Lionel Messi’s net worth at $1.1 billion in June 2026, and reported the figure in October 2026. In fact, that makes Messi one of only four athletes to become a billionaire while still playing, according to Forbes. Celebrity Net Worth puts him slightly lower, at $1 billion. In other words, the gap between the two estimates shows why the number should be read as an estimate, not an audited bank balance: Messi’s private companies, property and tax position are not fully public.

Lionel Messi net worth is an estimate built from decades of income, spending, taxes, investments and asset growth. Forbes counts about $1.8 billion in career earnings for Messi, and the net worth figure is what remains after tax, agent fees, spending and the growth of what he kept. No source publishes a full breakdown of his assets and liabilities, so the $1.1 billion figure is Forbes’ valuation.

How Lionel Messi Net Worth Was Built

Firstly, Messi’s fortune comes from two streams: football contracts and everything else. Forbes puts his career playing income at about $1.2 billion before taxes and agent fees, and his endorsement, memorabilia and business income at about $600 million. Overall, the two streams behind Lionel Messi net worth add up to roughly $1.8 billion in career earnings, the third-highest total among active athletes, behind only Ronaldo and Tiger Woods.

Income stream	Forbes estimate
Playing contracts (career, before tax and fees)	About $1.2 billion
Endorsements, memorabilia and business	About $600 million
Total career earnings	About $1.8 billion

The fortune grew steadily: long contracts at Barcelona, two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, and then the move to Inter Miami in 2023, where the deal included revenue-sharing with Major League Soccer partners Adidas and Apple TV.

Lionel Messi’s Salary at Inter Miami

In addition, Messi’s Inter Miami salary is the highest in Major League Soccer by a wide margin. The MLS Players Association’s 2026 salary guide lists him on a $25 million base salary and $28,333,333 in guaranteed compensation. However, that is the published salary, not the whole pay packet. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas told Bloomberg that Messi’s total annual compensation, including revenue-sharing arrangements with Adidas and Apple TV, reaches between $70 million and $80 million a year.

Meanwhile, in October 2025, Messi signed a contract extension with Inter Miami that keeps him at the club through the 2028 Major League Soccer season. Finally, the deal also includes an option for Messi to acquire an equity stake in Inter Miami after he retires from playing. Forbes says that option is part of the $1.1 billion valuation, even though Messi does not own the stake yet, which is the main reason other trackers value him lower. In short, the salary is certain; the equity is a promise that could be worth a great deal.

Endorsements, Hotels and Property

In addition, off the field, Messi earns about $70 million a year from endorsements and business, according to Forbes. For example, his longest commercial relationship is with Adidas, a lifetime deal that has run since his teenage years. He also earns from Pepsi, Budweiser and a string of other global brands, and Mint reported in December 2025 that a single sponsored Instagram post from Messi could earn him about $2.7 million.

Beyond endorsements, Messi also owns businesses and property. His assets include MiM Hotels, a hotel chain, and Edificio Rostower Socimi, a real estate company Forbes values at $282 million. That $282 million is the value of the company, not Messi’s personal wealth, and neither Forbes nor Celebrity Net Worth says how much of the company Messi personally owns. Forbes credits the billion-dollar figure mainly to cash saved over the years and the growth in value of his assets, not to any single contract.

Life Without the GOATs: Argentina Lose 1-2 to Uruguay

Meanwhile, the weekend of 13 November 2026 showed what Argentina look like without their captain. Argentina lost 1-2 to Uruguay in a friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, in their first match since Messi retired from international football. Leonardo Balerdi scored an own goal in the 48th minute, Maximiliano Araujo added a second five minutes later, and Julian Alvarez pulled one back in the 73rd minute, but Argentina could not find an equaliser.

As a result, the defeat ended two long runs: it was Argentina’s first home defeat in three years, since Uruguay also beat them 2-0 at the same stadium in a World Cup qualifier in November 2023, and it ended a run of 30 friendly matches without defeat. It also ended a 14-month unbeaten run in 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the number 10 shirt was left unassigned, and coach Lionel Scaloni, who has extended his contract until 2030, said the team has to rebuild without Messi.

Messi announced his retirement from international football in August 2026 and played his final game for Argentina on 6 October 2026, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, finishing with 207 caps and 125 goals. His last official match was the 2026 World Cup final, where Spain beat Argentina 1-0; he scored eight goals with four assists at the tournament. He has not retired from club football, and he remains a key player for Inter Miami.

Portugal Lose 4-1 to Denmark on Ronaldo’s Tribute Night

Similarly, Portugal’s first game without Cristiano Ronaldo went even worse. Denmark beat Portugal 4-1 at the Braga Municipal Stadium on Saturday 14 November 2026, in the UEFA Nations League. Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after the break, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joachim Andersen added the other two, and Bernardo Silva scored a late consolation in the third minute of added time. In fact, it was Portugal’s heaviest competitive home defeat in history, and the first time they had conceded four goals at home since a 4-4 draw with Cyprus in September 2010.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on 5 November 2026, in a social media video in which he said the time had come to hand back the number 7 shirt. He finished with 234 caps and 146 goals, the most international goals of any men’s player in history. His last appearance came on 24 September 2026, a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales in Lisbon. The retirement followed a public falling-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus: Ronaldo left the training camp on 30 September, was fined €255 and suspended for 30 days on 19 October, and then announced his decision instead of returning for the November internationals.

Similarly, Ronaldo has not retired from club football. The 41-year-old continues to play for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he had scored nine goals in 12 appearances before the November break. His international honours stand at three trophies: the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. At the 2026 World Cup he became the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament.

Messi vs Ronaldo Net Worth: Who Is Richer?

Lionel Messi net worth trails Ronaldo’s, according to the same sources that value Messi. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index places Ronaldo at $1.4 billion, which made him the first footballer to pass the billion-dollar mark. For the full numbers behind Ronaldo’s fortune, read our guide on what Ronaldo is worth.

By contrast, the two fortunes were built in different ways. Messi’s wealth comes mainly from long contracts and steady endorsements, while Ronaldo’s comes from a higher salary in Saudi Arabia and a larger business empire, including his CR7 brand. Both men sit on the list of the richest athletes of all time, and both won eight and five Ballon d’Or awards respectively. For the full list, read our guide on who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards.

Finally, the GOAT debate will not end with their retirements. For the arguments on both sides, read our Messi vs Ronaldo GOAT debate and our comparison of the greatest football players in history.

What Happens Next Without the GOATs

Above all, both countries have to build new teams around new leaders, and the early signs are not kind. Argentina face Costa Rica next in their November friendlies, with Julian Alvarez leading the attack. Portugal face Wales on 17 November in the Nations League, with Jorge Jesus under pressure. In short, the tribute nights are over, and the rebuilding has begun.

Finally, the two greats will still be watched every week at club level: Messi plays for Inter Miami through 2028, and Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr. What the weekend showed is that their countries miss them already. Life without the GOATs ain’t easy, and both teams have just found out how hard it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lionel Messi net worth?

Forbes estimates it at $1.1 billion as of June 2026, while Celebrity Net Worth puts it at $1 billion. The figure is an estimate, not an audited bank balance, and it includes an option to buy an Inter Miami stake after Messi retires.

How much does Lionel Messi earn per year?

Forbes estimated his earnings at about $140 million in the year to June 2026: $70 million on the field and $70 million off it. His published Inter Miami salary is $25 million a year, with $28.33 million guaranteed, but his total annual pay reaches $70 million to $80 million once revenue-sharing is counted, according to club co-owner Jorge Mas.

Did Lionel Messi retire from football?

No, Messi retired only from international football. He played his last game for Argentina on 6 October 2026, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin, and finished with 207 caps and 125 goals. He still plays for Inter Miami.

Did Cristiano Ronaldo retire from football?

No, Ronaldo retired only from international football. He announced it on 5 November 2026 and finished with 234 caps and 146 goals for Portugal. He still plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Who is richer, Messi or Ronaldo?

Ronaldo, according to the same sources: Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index places Ronaldo at $1.4 billion, against Forbes’ $1.1 billion estimate for Messi.

Why did Argentina and Portugal lose their first games without the GOATs?

Argentina lost 1-2 to Uruguay on 13 November 2026, their first home defeat in three years, and Portugal lost 4-1 to Denmark on 14 November 2026, their heaviest competitive home defeat ever — both in their first match since Messi and Ronaldo retired from international football.

The Bottom Line: His net worth stands at $1.1 billion, according to Forbes, built on about $1.8 billion in career earnings, a $25 million Inter Miami salary, and an endorsement and business empire worth about $70 million a year. The weekend after both GOATs retired, Argentina and Portugal both lost their first games without them, and the rebuilding has only just begun.