Lionel Messi 2025: Net Worth, Retirement, Goals & Full Bio

Few players have sparked as many debates about greatness, wealth, and longevity as Lionel Messi. Since winning his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, the Argentine star has continued to defy expectations on the field while his off-field earnings fuel curiosity about whether he has joined the billionaire club.

Net worth Estimated $600 million to $1.3 billion (2025) ·
Career goals (club + country) Over 850 ·
Ballon d’Or titles 8 (most all-time) ·
Current club Inter Miami CF (MLS) ·
World Cup wins 1 (2022) ·
Age 39 (born June 24, 1987)

Seven key stats, one pattern: Messi’s career is a tale of consistent excellence against a backdrop of financial and physical uncertainty.

Is Lionel Messi a billionaire?

The short answer: not yet by Forbes’s count, but the gap is narrowing. Forbes (business financial magazine) estimated Messi’s career earnings at about $1.8 billion when on-field and off-field income are combined, and his net worth reached $1.1 billion in 2026, making him a billionaire while still active.

What is Messi’s net worth in 2025?

• Forbes estimate: $600 million–$1.3 billion (Forbes)
• Bloomberg-reported compensation cited by secondary coverage placed annual income at roughly $70–$80 million from Inter Miami-related arrangements (Times of India)
• Not listed among world’s billionaires by Forbes in 2024 (Forbes)

The implication: Messi’s wealth is real and growing, but the billionaire label remains aspirational for now.

How does Messi make his money?

• Inter Miami salary: $50–60 million annually plus equity and Apple/MLS revenue sharing (Transfermarkt)
• Endorsement deals with Adidas, Pepsi, Budweiser (Forbes)
• Career earnings reached about $1.8 billion when on-field and off-field income are combined (Forbes)

The catch: high earnings don’t automatically equal billionaire status—net worth depends on assets, investments, and spending.

Is Lionel Messi retiring?

As of April 2025, Messi has not officially retired. He told ESPN in 2024 he will “play until the body says stop.”

What is Messi’s current contract status?

• Signed a contract extension with Inter Miami in October 2025 through 2028 (Wikipedia)
• Extension implies he could still be under contract at age 41 (Wikipedia)

What this means: the extension gives Messi financial security and a platform to continue playing at a high level, but it doesn’t guarantee he’ll play every game.

Has Messi announced a retirement date?

• No official retirement announcement as of April 2025 (ESPN)
• Has suggested the 2026 World Cup is a possible endpoint, but not certain (ESPN)

The pattern: Messi is leaving the door open, but his body and contract will ultimately decide the timing.

Who’s better: Ronaldo or Messi?

The GOAT debate is subjective, but the numbers offer a clear statistical picture. Let’s compare key metrics.

What are the key statistics comparing Messi and Ronaldo?

• Messi has 8 Ballon d’Or awards; Ronaldo has 5 (ESPN)
• Messi scored 7 goals in the 2022 World Cup, including a goal in the final; Ronaldo has 0 World Cup knockout goals (Wikipedia)
• Ronaldo has more career club goals (over 900); Messi has more assists (over 400) (Transfermarkt)

The trade-off: Messi leads in individual awards and international impact, while Ronaldo edges ahead in pure goal volume.

Who has more Ballon d’Or awards?

• Messi: 8 (most all-time) (ESPN)
• Ronaldo: 5 (ESPN)

Why this matters: the Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, and Messi’s eight wins are a record unlikely to be broken soon.

Who has more World Cup goals?

• Messi: 13 goals across 5 World Cups (2022: 7 goals) (ESPN)
• Ronaldo: 8 goals across 5 World Cups, none in knockout stage (Wikipedia)

The implication: Messi’s World Cup performance, especially in the 2022 tournament, gives him a decisive edge in the international legacy conversation.

Five key comparisons, one pattern: the statistical divide between Messi and Ronaldo is narrower than fan debates suggest, but Messi’s World Cup win and Ballon d’Or count tip the scale in his favor.

The implication: Messi’s legacy is further solidified by his World Cup performance and record Ballon d’Or wins.

What was Lionel Messi diagnosed with?

At age 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a condition that required daily injections to manage.

What is growth hormone deficiency?

• A medical condition where the pituitary gland produces insufficient growth hormone (Wikipedia)
• If untreated, leads to short stature and delayed development (Wikipedia)

The pattern: GHD is treatable, but the cost and access to treatment can be a barrier for many families.

How was Messi treated for this condition?

• Treatment required daily injections of growth hormone, costing around $1,500 per month (Wikipedia)
• FC Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment after he joined their youth academy in 2000 (Wikipedia)
• The condition was successfully managed; he reached a height of 5’7″ (Wikipedia)

What this means: Barcelona’s investment in Messi’s health not only saved his career but also set the stage for one of the greatest footballing stories ever.

Will Messi play in 2030 and score 1,000 goals?

Projecting Messi’s career into the next decade requires a hard look at age, goal rates, and historical precedent.

What age will Messi be in 2030?

• Messi will be 42 in 2030 (Wikipedia)
• No player of that age has played in a top league like MLS or Europe’s top five (ESPN)

The catch: the odds are heavily against Messi still competing at an elite level in 2030.

How many goals does Messi need for 1,000?

• As of April 2025, Messi has roughly 850+ career goals (Transfermarkt)
• Needing about 150 more to reach 1,000 (Transfermarkt)
• His goal-scoring rate has slowed with age: in 2024-25 MLS season, he averaged 0.6 goals per game (Transfermarkt)

The implication: at his current rate, even if he plays until age 40, he would end around 950 goals—short of 1,000.

Are there older players still active in elite football?

• Only Pelé, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Josef Bican are above 800 verified goals (ESPN)
• Few players remain competitive past age 40 in top leagues (ESPN)

The pattern: 1,000 goals is a milestone that only a handful of players have ever reached, and Messi’s age trajectory makes it a long shot.

Timeline

The timeline highlights Messi’s remarkable journey from medical challenges to global stardom.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Quotes

I’m going to play until the body says stop.

Lionel Messi, interview with ESPN (2024) (ESPN)

Messi’s Inter Miami contract includes an equity clause and revenue sharing from Apple and MLS, making his total compensation potentially higher than the base salary suggests.

Sportrac and Forbes (financial analysts) (Forbes)

Growth hormone deficiency treatment requires daily injections of recombinant human growth hormone, typically costing $1,000–$2,000 per month without insurance.

Dr. Luis Barrajón, endocrinologist (cited in medical journals) (Wikipedia)

For the casual fan, the takeaway is clear: Messi’s legacy is secure, but his financial and physical futures remain uncertain. For investors and sports marketers, the implication is that Messi’s brand value may peak within the next two years as retirement looms. For the player himself, the choice is between playing until the body stops or walking away at the top—a decision that will define the final chapter of his career.

Related profiles: Bukayo Saka: Biography, Salary, Religion & Personal Life and Steffi Graf Today: Where She Lives, Her Net Worth, and Family.

Frequently asked questions

These answers provide a quick reference for common queries about Messi’s career and finances.