Lionel Messi currently plays in the MLS for Inter Miami. This is a well-known fact and it has contributed to Messi’s net worth. However, his contract is quite unique. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details of the Messi contract at Inter Miami.

How Many Years Does the Messi Contract Last?

There are many important details that are crucial to examine. However, it makes sense to begin with the length of the contract first before moving onto other details. Lionel Messi signed his current contract with MLS club Inter Miami in 2023. According to reports, the contract lasts a total of four years.

This means that Messi is under contract at Inter Miami until 2027. Additionally, the length of this contract is significant for a number of reasons. The first reason that this contract length is vital is that it likely means that Messi will be at Inter Miami until he retires. Messi is already 37 years old and turns 38 years old in June 2025.

It is no exaggeration to say that Messi is still a phenomenal player in his late 30s. However, it is difficult to imagine him playing past the age of 40. This is especially true considering that he has now won a World Cup with Argentina. Unless Messi transfers to another club in the next few years, he will almost certainly finish his career at Inter Miami.

Another reason why the length of the contract is crucial is that it lasts until after the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 World Cup takes place partially in the US while Mexico and Canada serve as co-hosts. However, some people expect that Messi will retire after the 2026 World Cup. Considering the length of his Inter Miami contract, this may not be the case.

However, there are several other details about the Messi contract that should be examined.

How Lucrative Is Messi’s Contract In Terms of Base Salary?

Now that it is clear that the total length of Messi’s contract at Inter Miami is four years, it is time to discuss other details relating to it. Naturally, Lionel Messi makes quite a bit of money from his Inter Miami contract. Messi is one of the most recognizable and beloved athletes in the entire sports world. Lionel Messi even recently appeared in Super Bowl commercials and this showcases his immense appeal.

Initial Reports About the Messi Contract Base Salary Were Incorrect

Initially, reports indicated that Inter Miami pay Messi $1.03 million a week from just his base salary. This translates to about $54 million a year. However, later reports contradicted this and clarified Messi’s base salary at the MLS club. His base salary is not approximately $54 million a year. In fact, it is actually more than that.

Later Reports Corrected That Mistake

According to current, more accurate reports, Messi earns $60 million a year at Inter Miami. It is important to keep in mind that this is simply his base salary. There may be bonuses in the Messi contract for meeting certain milestones, but those details aren’t publicly available. When one considers this base salary, Messi is one of the best-paid athletes in the entire world.

Messi Is Worth His Base Salary

This makes sense for multiple reasons. One, Messi is still a great player who elevates his teammates and provides a solid foundation for the team’s success. Messi can still deliver for his club in massive moments when necessary. Two, Messi is highly marketable and brings plenty of attention to Major League Soccer and Inter Miami more specifically. Three, Messi entices other foreign players to play for Inter Miami in order to play with him.

All of these reasons mean that Messi is more than worth his base salary. However, now that it is clear what his base salary is, it is time to progress and examine the next detail of the Messi contract at Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi Earns Additional Money from MLS Season Pass

As previously stated, Messi’s contract at Inter Miami is unique in several ways. One way that the contract is unique is that Messi doesn’t earn simply his base salary and any performance-related bonuses. He has other sources of revenue included in his contract. There are several of them.

One of the additional sources of revenue in the Messi contract is his revenue share of MLS Season Pass. Apple created MLS Season Pass in order to generate money from subscriptions and give MLS fans an easier way to watch their favorite teams. Subscription-based services are quite common when it comes to sports these days. In any case, Lionel Messi earns a portion of the revenue that Apple receives from MLS Season Pass subscriptions. It is likely many fans have signed up for this subscription because Messi joined the MLS.

This means that Messi earns more than $60 million per year from his contract. The exact amount of money he receives from this revenue share are unclear, though. Now that we’ve covered this contract detail in full, it is time to continue onto the next detail of Lionel Messi’s contract at Inter Miami.

The Messi Contract Means Lionel Messi Now Owns 10% of Inter Miami

There are several unique details about Lionel Messi’s contract at Inter Miami. This is unsurprising, especially considering that Inter Miami had to overcome competition from Saudi Arabia for Messi’s signature. As previously stated, one of these details was Messi earning part of the revenue from MLS Season Pass subscriptions.

However, this is not the only unique detail about his contract. Another interesting detail about his contract is the fact that Messi now has a 10% ownership take in Inter Miami as a result of this contract. Messi is one of the few players in MLS history with such a clause in their contract. It reflects the importance of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami and how committed the club was to adding the global superstar to their team. Messi’s ownership stake means he will likely remain in the US close to Inter Miami for the foreseeable future.

That concludes the explanation of the Lionel Messi contract at Inter Miami.