THE SALARIES earned by Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr are incredible, but there’s one clear winner.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas admitted this week that the Argentine icon earns around $70million to $80million a year in total compensation.
That works out to roughly £52million to £62million annually for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Mas insisted the MLS club are happy to foot the enormous bill for the 38-year-old superstar.
As revealed by The Athletic, Mas said: “The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive.”
“I pay Messi, worth every penny, but it’s $70 million to $80 million a year. Across everything.”
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According to the MLS Players’ Association, Messi earns a $12m base salary with $20.45m in guaranteed compensation, which includes bonuses.
But his contract also includes a future ownership stake in Inter Miami, dramatically boosting the total value of his deal.
The Argentine legend signed a new three-year extension in October, committing his future to the Florida club until 2028.
Since arriving in the United States, Messi has transformed the club.
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He inspired Miami to the 2025 MLS title, scoring 29 goals and claiming the Golden Boot in a sensational campaign.
Messi also sits comfortably as the highest-paid player in MLS.
But even Messi’s massive payday pales in comparison to the fortune being earned by Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
The Portuguese megastar signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr last June, extending his stay in Riyadh until 2027.
It was revealed when he signed his deal, that it is worth nearly £178million per year, which is around TRIPLE Messi’s annual earnings.
The contract is widely regarded as the most lucrative in sporting history, with Ronaldo reportedly earning £488,000 per day in basic wages.
His total package could exceed £492million over two years once bonuses, sponsorships and perks are included.
The financial comparison is just the latest chapter in one of sport’s greatest ever rivalries.
Messi and Ronaldo, now 38 and 41, have dominated football for almost two decades – claiming 13 Ballon d’Or titles between them.
Messi leads the race with eight, while Ronaldo has five. The pair have finished first and second NINE times in the award’s history.
Even as they approach the latter stages of their careers, both remain key figures for their countries.
Ronaldo continues to lead Portugal, and Messi remains Argentina’s talisman.
And with another FIFA World Cup looming this summer, the two icons are still performing on the global stage.
Despite entering his 40s, Ronaldo remains prolific in Saudi Arabia.
Since joining Al-Nassr in the 2022/23 season, he has scored 121 goals in 137 appearances for the club.
Meanwhile, Messi continues to dazzle fans in MLS while boosting the league’s global profile.
The debate over which player is the true GOAT has raged for years.
But when it comes to wages right now, Ronaldo’s Saudi fortune comfortably leaves Messi trailing behind.