Lionel Messi, PSG soccer star is the highest paid sportsman in the world, according to Forbes. In 2021, Lionel Messi returned as the highest-paid sportsman of the season. The previous year Messi had been overtaken by Conor McGregor.
Messi earned $ 130 million, made up of $ 75 million paid by the Prigino club, and $ 55 million from sponsors of some of the most famous brands in the world. In second place, behind Messi, is LeBron James. Third place for Cristiano Ronaldo with 115 million of which 55 million come from his sponsorship activities.
In fourth place, in fact, we find Neymar or the spearhead of Paris Saint-Germain who earns 95 million dollars. After him Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, whose contract is worth 82 million dollars. Behind, surprisingly, Roger Federer who earns 90.7 million dollars almost entirely from his activities as a sponsor.
Lionel Messi’s career highlights
Often compared to compatriot Diego Armando Maradona, he is considered one of the best footballers of all time, if not the best ever. He is currently the third most prolific scorer in football history (800 goals), and the best assist man ever (380).
The 41 official trophies won in his career make him the second player by team trophies in history. He is also included in the list of players with at least 1000 career appearances. He holds the record of goals scored in a calendar year in official competitions: 91 goals in 2012.
He is also the player with the record for goals (32) and assists (15) in finals in official competitions. In his career with clubs, he has won 37 trophies: ten Spanish championships (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019), seven King’s Cups (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021), eight Spanish Super Cups (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2018), one French League (2022), one French Super Cup (2022), four UEFA Champions League (2006, 2009 , 2011 and 2015), three UEFA Super Cups (2009, 2011 and 2015) and three World Club Cups (2009, 2011 and 2015).
The 35 trophies won make him the most decorated footballer in the history of Barcelona, a club of which he also holds the record for appearances (778), goals (672) and assists (268). He is the record holder in La Liga for goals (474) and assists (192).
With the Argentine national team, in which he has played since 2005 and of which he is a record holder of appearances (162) and goals (86), he participated in four world championships (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018), reaching the final in 2014, and six editions of Copa América (2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021), winning it in 2021 and reaching three other finals (2007, 2015 and 2016).
