Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract: How much will the Argentine earn?
Lionel Messi revealed in an interview that Inter Miami is his next destination after leaving PSG. Barcelona and Al-Hilal tried to acquire the World Cup winner, but he decided to the MLS side. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract reportedly is two-and-a-half-year, with a 12-month option to extend in 2026.
Apple and Adidas are also involved in the lucrative deal that will benefit everyone in the long run. Al-Hilal were reportedly ready to offer €1.5 Billion for three years to Messi.
And this would’ve seen him earn a whooping €500 million a year with bonuses. However, Barcelona’s contact was less compared to this. They were offering Messi €13 million per season.
Argentine’s preference was FC Barcelona, as he didn’t care about the money they were offering. But, due to Financial Fair Play they they could not sign the World Cup winner.
Will Messi become a designated player at Inter Miami?
The Designated player rule was introduced by MLS in 2007 to attract Manchester United legend David Beckham.
In this rule, each side is allowed three players from their team that can be outside the standard salary caps imposed by the division.
It gives clubs the flexibility to make marquee signings on big contracts without impacting the financial structure of the American game.
Messi will surely fill one of those spots. Moreover, Inter Miami already have three players in that rule and one of them will be sacrificed.
What is Lionel Messi’s salary at Inter Miami?
Messi will earn around $125m-$150m (€100m-€120m) with the MLS club. It also includes sponsorship deals with Apple and Adidas based on the revenue that Messi will generate.
The plus side of this deal is that, there could also be a ownership stake for Messi. David Beckham, was also given the stake ownership when he arrived in MLS.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract will make him the highest earner in MLS, overtaking former Liverpool forward Xherdan Shaqiri. Shaqiri earns around $8.1m (£6.5m) per season with Chicago Fire.
Lorenzo Insigne, plays for Toronto FC earns around $7.5m (£6m) net per season. Former Real Madrid star Javier Hernandez earns $7.4m (£6m) net per season with LA Galaxy.
Who will earn more money Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Messi will become MLS’s highest earner. But his wages are still less than the Portuguese superstar, who earns around £177m ($221m) per year.
£62m ($77m) of that comes through annual salary, and the rest comes from commercial deals and image rights.
Ronaldo’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s bid for hosting the 2030 World Cup can make him earn more than £177m.
Messi took a dig at Cristiano and said that money was not his motivation, and that’s why he won’t join his eternal rival in Saudi Arabia.
