Lionel Messi Has reportedly crossed the billion-dollar mark in net worth, becoming only the second footballer to enter the billionaire club after long-time rivals. Cristiano Ronaldo. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, cited by Goal.com, Messi’s fortune now exceeds $1 billion after years of huge earnings through salaries, bonuses, endorsements and investments. The Argentine superstar has earned more than $700 million in salary and performance-related payments since 2007 alone. Unlike Ronaldo, whose financial empire grew rapidly through an aggressive global branding strategy and his blockbuster move to Al Nasr in 2023, Messi’s rise to wealth has reportedly been more measured and carefully managed through long-term partnerships in Europe and the United States and family-led business decisions. The 38-year-old’s commercial impact has exploded since joining Inter Miami CF in 2023. His arrival changed the popularity of soccer in the United States, with huge attendance numbers, worldwide attention to MLS and increased interest from many European stars considering a move to North America. Macy’s cultural influence in the US now reaches another level before 2026. FIFA World Cup. A New Jersey town has officially named a section of Sherman Avenue “Leo Messi Way” in honor of the Argentine icon. The tribute comes from Berkeley Heights, a small town in Union County with a population of just over 13,000. The initiative was approved by the BH FIFA World Cup 26 Task Force, which was created to generate excitement and community engagement ahead of the World Cup’s arrival in the US, Canada and Mexico next year. Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will once again lead his country in 2026. Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Austria, Jordan and Algeria, with their first match scheduled against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.
