The full extent of Lionel Messi’s lucrative contract at Paris Saint-Germain has reportedly been revealed.
Lionel Messi completed a free transfer from Barcelona in the summer and signed a two-year contract at PSG, including an option for a third season. It’s the first time in his club career he has played away from Camp Nou.
So what is Messi’s salary in France? The Argentine is set to earn a net total of €110 million (£94m/$129m) if he does three seasons. PSG will even pay some of his earnings in cryptocurrency and have included loyalty bonuses in his deal.
A new 💎 in Paris!
PSGxMESSI ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/scrp1su9a6
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 10, 2021
Messi salary: How much will he earn in Paris?
The ‘Messi salary’ topic has spread like wildfire across the world. Reports over Messi’s salary have varied, although L’Équipe claims to have the inside scoop.
The French outlet has reported the 34-year-old will earn €30 million (£26m/$35m) per season after taxes. It added that PSG will pay him €1 million ($1.18m/£853K) in cryptocurrency – a digital payment system that does not rely on banks to certify transactions – as part of the deal.
Contrary to previous rumors, Messi didn’t get a signing-on fee upon joining the club. PSG will instead award him a €10 million ($11m/£8m) loyalty bonus for the second and third years of his stay in France.
Therefore, with taxes accounted for, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will earn a net salary of €110 million if he stays in Paris until 2024.
How much did Barcelona pay him?
Despite his eye-watering PSG deal, Messi’s salary is still a far cry from what he made at Barcelona.
The Blaugrana icon was the highest-paid footballer in the world at Camp Nou in 2020. Forbes estimated he earned $126 million (£91.7m/€107m) in total, between his salary and sponsorship deals. Therefore, he would’ve brought home over €1 million a week in Catalonia.
The American business magazine claimed Barcelona paid Messi around $92 million (£66m/€78m) in 2020.