Messi earns up to Rp1.2 trillion per year at Inter Miami

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas says Lionel Messi earns around US$70-80 million per year, including various forms of compensation and equity in the club. ‘I pay Messi, and it’s worth every penny, but it’s around US$70-80 million per year in total,’ Mas told ESPN. He said the scale of Messi’s contract forces the club to maximise revenue sources, including world-class sponsorships and other commercial partnerships, to be able to pay the MLS’s highest-paid player.

In addition to the salary, Messi also earns additional income from other sources, including a sponsorship deal with Adidas and a revenue-sharing arrangement with league broadcaster Apple.

Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 and subsequently extended his contract in October last year, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2028 season.

Inter Miami’s President of Business Operations, Xavier Asensi, said the club had prepared various business strategies long before the arrival of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. ‘I don’t believe in luck. The definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity,’ he said.

Inter Miami’s substantial investment in Messi so far has been viewed as having a significant impact on the club’s development.

According to Sportico data, Inter Miami is now the MLS’s most valuable club, valued at US$1.45 billion, up around 22 percent in a year.

Asensi assessed Messi’s influence as very large on both sporting performance and the club’s business. He noted that since Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami had reached the final of the US Open Cup, won the Leagues Cup, claimed the Supporters’ Shield with a points record, won the MLS Cup, and qualified for various international competitions including the FIFA Club World Cup.