Lionel Messi, the World Cup-winning captain of Argentina, has recently made a big move to Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, to kick-start the next chapter of his footballing career. The 36-year-old confirmed that his decision of going to the United States of America is final while stating that certain formalities are yet to be completed. On the other side, Cristiano Ronaldo had signed for Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club on a free transfer from Manchester United at the turn of the year.
According to reports, Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami could be worth INR 1236 crore ($150 million) approximately for two and a half years. It equates to around INR 9.5 crore ($1154k) for a week’s worth of footballing commitments, adding up to INR 9.4k ($114) a minute. Furthermore, the Argentine’s contract with the American side could get boosted by commercial partnerships with brands like Adidas, Apple, and MLS.
Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Portuguese star had penned INR 1772 crore ($215 million) a year deal with Al-Nassr, which would run for seven years, wherein he will become an ambassador for Saudi Arabia, after his footballing retirement. It means that Cristiano Ronaldo could earn INR 12367 crore ($1.5 billion) approximately till 2030, adding up to INR 578 ($7) per second.
It has been reported that Adidas, who is one of the biggest sponsors of MLS, has put forth a profit-sharing agreement, which would mean that Lionel Messi will get a cut from profits earned through his involvement in the league.
Furthermore, Apple and MLS, are looking to share a part of the revenue to the Argentine, generated through a streaming package for new subscribers, the MLS Season Pass, which is available on Apple TV+. Also, the officials of the league are willing to give 'La Pulga' the option to purchase a percentage of the ownership of any team after his retirement from football.
