Barcelona star Lionel Messi has become football's second billionaire.

After Cristiano Ronaldo previously achieved the feat, Messi has now earned $1billion in pre-tax earnings during his career, as reported by Forbes.

Messi is the highest earning player in 2020 according to Forbes, with the Argentina international set to earn $126million (£98million) - split between his salary of $92million (£72million) plus $34million (£26million) in endorsements.

Having recently agreed to stay at Barcelona for another season after much uncertainty, Messi will hope that he can help the Catalan club to bounce back after they failed to win a trophy last campaign.

In addition to his boot deal with Adidas, Messi also has endorsement deals with Pepsi, Budweiser and AI-vision company OrCam Technologies.

Ronaldo is in second place on Forbes' list, with the Juventus attacker on course to earn $117million (£91million).

With 457 million followers across his social media accounts, Ronaldo is the most popular athlete in the world. He has deals with companies like Nike and Herbalife.

In third is Paris Saint-Germain winger Neymar, who is due to earn $96million (£75million).

The Brazil international recently switched to Puma after his deal with Nike came to an end.
Neymar's PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe has risen significantly on the list to fourth place. He is set to earn $42million (£33million).

In addition to his exploits on the pitch, Mbappe was also named as the cover star for FIFA 21.

It is anticipated that Mbappe will continue to rise up the list and he could well overtake Neymar next year.

Completing the top five is Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, whose earnings total $37million (£29million).

Salah, the highest Premier League player on the list, has deals with Adidas and Vodafone Egypt.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is sixth with earnings of $34million (£26million).

In seventh is Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, who has earned $33million (£26million). He launched an Esports team this year, with his brand growing further.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is in eighth with $29million (£23million) despite his lack of game time.

Robert Lewandowski, who helped Bayern Munich to win the treble, is in ninth place with earnings of $24million (£19million).

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, meanwhile, is in tenth having earned $27million (£21million).

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8731785/amp/Lionel-Messi-footballs-second-billionaire-Barcelona-star-tops-Forbes-list-earners.html

I'm very sure Messi had since hit the Billion mark. Forbes just completed their calculations.

Money wey too long and complicated.

Messi-less assassin. Send Barca on relegation with enough own goals abeg before you stroll leave them at the end of the season.

I wish...

my child must play ball oo

someone is sitting on the bench is earning hundred of thousands and millions.

me that is working like a bull have nothing in my account close to tens of thousands.

Damnnnnn niggarrr
Messi the boss

obembet:


I can't believe Bale is sitting comfortably on 8th position,while sitting on the bench....................SuperGrace

Lalasticlala

This life nor balance my dear
Person sit down for bench dey collect millions..... whereas other people dey inside sun and rain dey work since morning still one naira them nor get
He nor get as he dey be pass....one of my pikin must play ball....the other one go be artiste and the third one go take bombing as career

4teenblaq:
my child must play ball oo

I can't believe Bale is sitting comfortably on 8th position,while sitting on the bench....................SuperGrace

obembet:


I can't believe Bale is sitting comfortably on 8th position,while sitting on the bench....................SuperGrace

Lalasticlala

He isn't even on the bench this days, even money ritual can't make someone as rich as that


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I don't really have anything against Messi but the words second best are the only suitable words that describes him when it comes to achieving anything when Cristiano Ronaldo is around....He will always be second best no matter how hard he tries.... quote me at your own peril

GO GUY!

obembet:


I can't believe Bale is sitting comfortably on 8th position,while sitting on the bench....................SuperGrace

Lalasticlala

na ozil own dey pain me pass, dude no dey play anything but na him be highest earner for the club because he dey answer the name footballer.

Both of them are notorious tax evaders - big up to them!

Ok

Just to make him happy and to forget the 8:2.

Good one my favorite. Hope your daddy pays your tax sha


Need to spread your business on social media? See my siggy

Always coming behind the king in reality

Who's the first? Op

Ok

Dizzyrascal:
I don't really have anything against Messi but the word second best is the only suitable word that describes him when it comes to achieving anything when Cristiano Ronaldo is around....He will always be second best no matter how hard he tries.... quote me at your own peril

mumu you no get sense..

for your village, five ballon d'or is more than six..

six golden boot is less than four abi?

go and buy sense.

daddytime:
I'm very sure Messi had since hit the Billion mark. It's just that Forbes just completed their calculations.

Money wey too long and complicated.

Messi-less assassin. Send Barca on relegation with enough own goals abeg before you stroll leave them at the end of the season.

I wish...

scumbag

I am happy for the billionaires



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daddytime:
I'm very sure Messi had since hit the Billion mark. It's just that Forbes just completed their calculations.

Money wey too long and complicated.

Messi-less assassin. Send Barca on relegation with enough own goals abeg before you stroll leave them at the end of the season.

I wish...

I hv never seen such dumb fans in my life

obembet:


I can't believe Bale is sitting comfortably on 8th position,while sitting on the bench....................SuperGrace

Why there nor allow am go China last year

1 million a week deal

theoneJabulani:
He isn't even on the bench this days, even money ritual can't make someone as rich as that

no such thing as money rituals lol

I don't know why I love messi, though I'm a Ronaldo fan.

another tragedy for penaldo fans

4teenblaq:
my child must play ball oo

someone is sitting on the bench is earning hundred of thousands and millions.

me that is working like a bull have nothing in my account close to tens of thousands.

What if football is not what is supposed to make him become what you desire

4teenblaq:


mumu you no get sense..

for your village, five ballon d'or is more than six..

six golden boot is less than four abi?

go and buy sense.

i said quote me at your own peril....and you still did it

Dizzyrascal:
I don't really have anything against Messi but the words second best are the only suitable words that describes him when it comes to achieving anything when Cristiano Ronaldo is around....He will always be second best no matter how hard he tries.... quote me at your own peril

Honestly, you are making sense.

It is what it is! life is truly not balance!

It's also an eye opener is not hardwork but smartwork

4teenblaq:
my child must play ball oo

someone is sitting on the bench is earning hundred of thousands and millions.

me that is working like a bull have nothing in my account close to tens of thousands.

Lol.. All those I wan leave na shakara to increase him money.


Chai.