Lionel Messi joins exclusive club of sporting billionaires

News24
15 Sep 2020, 18:42 GMT+10

Lionel Messi may have had to stay put at Barcelona but the Argentine legend did succeed in joining one new club this year - the one reserved for sporting billionaires, according to Forbes magazine.

The Argentine striker's career earnings of over one billion dollars places the six-time Ballon d'Or winner in a group of mega-wealthy sports figures containing just Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather and his great rival on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Forbes said that in 2020 Messi was the best paid footballer in the world with an income of $126 million from his Barca salary ($92 million for the 2020/2021 season) and $34 million from sponsors and other sources.

The 33-year-old knocked Juventus forward Ronaldo ($117 million) off the top of the football salary chart with Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar ($96 million) in third place.

Forbes' top 10 earning players made a combined $570 million this season, a jump of 11% despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic to European leagues and the global economy.

Michael Jordan is also in the billionaire's club but the basketball legend's fortune has largely come after retirement through his longstanding contract with Nike and acquisition of NBA franchise Charlotte Hornets.

Messi remains at Barcelona this season after conceding defeat in his attempt to leave without triggering his €700 million release.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iraq Sun.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Sources: Meta won’t alter data model, faces fresh EU charges

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Meta is holding firm on its controversial pay-or-consent model, a move that could lead to fresh antitrust charges...

Trump’s tariff push could push US rates above 20%, ICC says

LONDON, U.K.: American consumers and businesses could soon face the highest overall tariff burden in more than a century, according...

U.S. Urged to Investigate After Israeli Settlers Beat Palestinian-American to Death

The family of Sayfollah Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West...

New Hampshire federal court ruling defies Trump’s citizenship move

CONCORD, New Hampshire: A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a crucial ruling on July 10 against President Donald Trump's executive...

Houthis attack cargo ship in Red Sea, raising maritime safety fears

DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...

Trump administration restarts Ukraine arms deliveries

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...

Arab

Section