Messi’s Price Tag: Inter Miami’s Sky-High Bill to Keep the Flea Buzzing

Overview

Has the Flea become a heavy burden for the American club? That question frames a new reality at Inter Miami as Lionel Messi’s off-field value matches, and perhaps surpasses, his on-field impact.

Jorge Mas, Inter Miami’s co-owner, revealed that Messi’s annual total cost ranges between $70 million and $80 million, stressing that the Argentine star earns every cent for the meteoric impact he has had on the club.

Mas also told Bloomberg that Messi’s arrival in Florida in the summer of 2023 pushed the club into a new economic and marketing dimension, a move with hefty financial obligations, as salaries and actual entitlements run well above what had been publicly stated.

Data shows Messi’s base salary sits at about $20.45 million per year (roughly €17.6 million), but the true cost faced by the American club far exceeds that figure due to additional clauses and commercial deals tied to the Argentine’s presence.

Financial Details

Mas, addressing the financial burden of big signings, said: “We need sponsors, and they must be world-class, because the cost of players is high.”

Regarding Messi specifically, “I pay Messi—he deserves every cent—between $70 and $80 million annually… this figure covers everything.”

French radio Monte Carlo noted that Mas did not disclose the precise figures, but the gap between base salary and the total amount stems from an unprecedented clause letting Messi take a percentage of the club’s market value, which has surged since his arrival, rising from about $585 million in 2023 to around $1.35 billion today.

Read also: font hints at the truth behind Messi’s return to Barcelona, as discussed in reports and speculation that keep fans talking about the “Flea” living up to his nickname—and then some.

Punchline 1: If Messi’s contract were a blockbuster, the box office would need a bigger stadium just to clear the budget.

Punchline 2: And yes, Inter Miami might finally get a tax write-off for “emotional support Messi.”