Lionel Messi Net Worth 2018 – How Rich is He Now?

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian football player, considered by many to be the best football player in the world. He was named FIFA world player of the year five times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Lionel Messi Net Worth – $280 million

How Did Lionel Messi make their money & wealth

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. He started playing football at the age of 5. By the time he was 8, he was recruited to join the youth system of the Rosario club Newell’s Old Boys. Soon after, Messi was diagnosed with a hormone deficiency, which restricted his growth.

The treatment consisted of daily human growth hormone injections, which cost several hundred dollars per month. When Messi’s parents could no longer pay for the treatment, La Masia(Barcelona’s youth academy) offered Lionel a change to train with them, and to cover his medical bills. Messi and his family moved to Spain to start a career as a professional football.

In 2005, at age 16, Messi made his debut in Barcelona’s first team. That same year he led Argentina’s national team to victory in the Under-20 World Cup. Within the next years, Messi established himself as an integral part of the team.  In 2007 he was a finalist for both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award. He also made the finals the following year.  In the 2008-2009 season, Messi helped Barcelona have one of their best years in history, winning Copa del Rey, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. That same year, Messi won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Messi had three more successful seasons, and won 3 more Ballon d’Ors. His best season was the 2011-2012 one, where he set the records for most goals scored in a single season, both for La Liga and Champions League. In March 2012, he became Barcelona’s All Time Top Scorer. He faced a few injuries the following seasons, and lost the Ballon d’Or twice to Cristiano Ronaldo. But the 2014-2015 season was very good for Messi, breaking scoring records again in La Liga and Champions League, and leading Barcelona to its second treble, winning Copa del Rey, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Lionel Messi Personal Life & FAQ’s:

Is Lionel Messi married?

Lionel Messi is in a relationship with Antonella Roccuzzo. They met when he was 5 years old. She is the cousin of Messi’s childhood friend, Lucas Scaglia. They started dating in 2008, and kept their relationship private until 2009. They have two children: Thiago (born 2012) and Mateo (born 2015). The births of his sons were the only occasions where Messi missed training.

You can see a recent picture of Antonella to the left.

Lionel Messi Salary & Annual Earnings in 2016

In 2016, Leo Messi made $81.4 million. $53.4 million came from his salary at Barcelona, and $28 million from endorsement deals.

Lionel Messi House

Leo Messi has multiple houses in Spain and Argentina, b ut his dream house is currently being built in Barcelona. The house is designed with hexagonal patterns, in order to look like a football when seen from above. To allow natural light to come in, half the roof is made from mirrored glass. The yard is divided in two halves, like a football pitch. One half contains a lawn and the other a huge swimming pool.

Lionel Messi Car

Lionel Messi drives a Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, a Ferrari F430 Spyder and an Audi R8 Spyder.

Charity, donations and philanthropy

Throughout his career, Messi was involved in many charities. Because of the health problems he suffered as a child, Messi works a lot with charities aimed at vulnerable children. Since 2004, he has contributed with both time and money to United Nations Children’s Fund. He has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2010, participating in campaigns that focused on the Haiti earthquake, HIV prevention, education, and the social inclusion of disabled children.

In addition to his work with UNICEF, Messi also does charity through his own foundation. The Leo Messi Foundation was created in 2007 and it supports access to health care, education and sport for children. The foundation financed research grants, medical training and medical centers and projects in Argentina and Spain.