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Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is making between $70 million and $80 million per year, said Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, but it’s “worth every penny.”
“The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive,” Mas said to Bloomberg on Friday, March 6. “I pay Messi — worth every penny — but it’s $70 million to $80 million a year. Across everything.”
The number reportedly includes Messi’s ownership share in the team.
According to Bloomberg, roughly 55 percent of Inter Miami’s revenue comes from sponsorships and other commercial deals. Media rights only account for two percent of the club’s revenue.
Messi, 38, was the highest paid player in Major League Soccer last year, and is the second-highest paid soccer player in the world, behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo reportedly makes over $400 million through his contract with Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr FC.
The Argentine soccer player joined Inter Miami in 2023, and has since signed a contract with the team that runs through the 2028 season.
On Thursday, March 5, Messi and his Inter Miami teammates visited the White House to be honored by President Donald Trump for winning the MLS Cup in December 2025.
At the event, Trump, 79, admitted that he didn’t realize Messi was going to show up.
“My son [Barron] said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’” Trump explained. “I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on.’ He said, ‘Messi.’”
Trump continued, “He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he’s a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours.”
The president singled out Messi during the ceremony, acknowledging that he is the first United States leader to welcome Messi to the White House.
“We’re honoring truly talented people,” Trump said. “It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: ‘Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.’”
Trump added, “Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do. Very, very unusual and frankly, there’s a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know, because you sort of expected to win, but almost nobody wins.”
Messi presented the president with a pink Inter Miami soccer ball during the celebration. Trump was also given a custom Inter Miami jersey and a special watch from head coach Javier Mascherano.
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