Messi’s annual earnings at Inter Miami disclosed
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has disclosed that Lionel Messi receives between $70 million and $80 million annually from the Florida-based club, setting up a stark financial contrast with his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking to The Athletic, Mas explained: “The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive.” He added: “I pay Messi, worth every penny, but it’s $70 million to $80 million a year. Across everything.”
The revelation places Messi’s earnings at approximately £52 million to £60 million yearly, a substantial sum that nonetheless falls dramatically short of what the Portuguese forward commands in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo’s current deal with Al-Nassr, signed last June and running until 2027, dwarfs his Argentine counterpart’s package by a considerable margin.
Valued at close to £178 million per year, Ronaldo’s contract is roughly three times what Messi takes home from Inter Miami. This arrangement is widely considered the richest in the history of professional sport, with the 41-year-old pocketing approximately £488,000 in basic wages every single day.
When factoring in bonuses, commercial partnerships, and additional benefits, Ronaldo’s total earnings over the two-year agreement could surpass £492 million. The financial gulf between football’s two greatest modern players has never been more pronounced.
Messi’s compensation structure at Inter Miami comprises multiple elements beyond his headline figure. According to the MLS Players’ Association, the Argentine receives a base salary of $12 million alongside guaranteed compensation totaling $20.45 million, which encompasses various bonuses.
His agreement also incorporates a future ownership stake in the club, significantly enhancing the overall worth of his arrangement. The 38-year-old committed to a fresh three-year extension in October, tying him to Miami until 2028.
Messi’s impact on the pitch has been transformative, leading the club to their 2025 MLS championship whilst netting 29 goals to claim the Golden Boot. He remains the league’s highest-paid player by some distance. The salary disparity represents merely the latest chapter in one of sport’s most celebrated rivalries, and both players continue to command headlines at this advanced stage of their careers.
As the summer FIFA World Cup approaches, Messi remains a central figure for Argentina, while Ronaldo continues captaining Portugal, showcasing that their legacies remain firmly intact even as they navigate the twilight years of their footballing journeys.
