You Won’t Believe What Lionel Messi Had To Survive to Become World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Player
Thanks to his impressive skills and widespread popularity, the word soccer has almost become synonymous with the name Lionel Messi. This level of success and fame didn’t come easy for the Argentine athlete.
Health Condition
Messi grew up with working-class parents in Rosario, Argentina. As a young boy, he showed talent for the sport but faced the struggle of being diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).
This brought on the possibility of Messi’s physical growth being stunted and his soccer dreams being crushed. Unfortunately, his steelworker father and house cleaner couldn’t afford the expensive treatment for his illness.
There was a silver lining though. After being spotted by Coach Carles Rexach, he was offered a contract for Barcelona’s youth academy. And lucky for the family, the contract entailed the club shouldering Messi’s medical treatment expenses as well. Soon, a 13-year-old Messi was on a plane to Spain with his father.
Valued Player
Despite earlier setbacks, Messi became one of the most successful players of all time. He currently holds the record for having received the most Ballon d’Or awards winning six throughout his career.
The 32-year-old athlete also holds the distinction of receiving five European Golden Boot awards. And it looks like Barcelona is continuing to treat him well after all these years. Messi is bound to receive a salary of $80 million for the 2020-21 season.
He’s consistently made it onto the list of the world’s highest-earning athletes. In 2018, he came in second just behind boxer Floyd Mayweather. And in the year prior, he earned $111 million.
Messi’s fortune is estimated to be around $400 million. Safe to say, he can afford any kind of medical treatment he may need on his own now.
Lucrative Contracts
It’s also worth noting that the athlete owes a good portion of his wealth from brand endorsement and deals like his fellow soccer stars. Among the companies and brands he has worked with are Pepsi and Huawei.
He has also nabbed a lucrative lifetime deal with Adidas. Further proof of his popularity is that China has announced that it’s building a theme park dedicated to him. The said park is set to open in 2020.
More in Football
-
`
Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon Calls Saudi Arabia “The Home of WWE”
In a world where sports entertainment constantly evolves, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a new hub, captivating the interest of international...
December 8, 2023 -
`
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: A Historic Heavyweight Title Fight is All Set in Saudi Arabia
The boxing world is abuzz with anticipation for a historic event that promises to be a monumental clash in the annals...
December 2, 2023 -
`
LA Lakers Shooting Guard D’Angelo Russell Aspires to Be Derrick White
In the world of professional basketball, players often look to their peers for inspiration and guidance. For Los Angeles Lakers shooting...
November 26, 2023 -
`
F1 Rumor Mill: Lewis Hamilton’s Secret Contract Talks With Ferrari
In the thrilling world of Formula 1, where high-speed races and cutting-edge technology reign supreme, the off-track drama often captures just...
November 19, 2023 -
`
Is Saudi Arabia ‘Sportswashing’ Soccer’s World Order?
When it comes to soccer, Saudi Arabia is making headlines for all the right reasons – or so it seems. The...
November 11, 2023 -
`
How Dillon Danis Vs. Logan Paul Ended With a Shocking Disqualification
In the electrifying world of professional boxing, there are fights that leave fans awestruck. And then there are fights that make...
October 31, 2023 -
`
Jordi Fernandez: The NBA’s Next Coaching Prodigy With a Canadian Twist
The world of basketball is a place where legends are born, games are won, and coaching stars rise out of seemingly...
October 29, 2023 -
`
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 Comeback: The Honey Badger Is Back!
Formula 1 fans have eagerly awaited the return of Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo, who suffered a hand injury in a dramatic...
October 22, 2023 -
`
Saudi Pro League: Big Name Star Players That Are ‘Transferring’ to the Middle East
There was a time when the Saudi Pro League was a name known mainly within its borders. Fast forward to today,...
October 13, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login