‘Highest Paid…’: Not Tiger Woods, LeBron James or Patrick Mahomes, But the Latest Entrant in American Sport Nabs Top Crown?

Tiger Woods and LeBron James have ushered in massive earnings over the past two decades. Thanks to their unprecedented athletic success and lucrative endorsement deals, the American sporting icons even made it to Forbes‘ annual World’s Billionaire List for 2023. This made them the first-ever active players to attain a ten-digit net worth. Now, two of America’s greatest sports stars stand to be eclipsed by another legendary athlete.

This superstar is no stranger to surging to the front wherever he has been, raking in the moolah for his graceful efforts. And now, he is all set to dominate the top earners charts.

An Olympic gold medalist will surge ahead of top American sport league earners

Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is unarguably one of the greatest athletes to walk the earth. In his illustrious career, the 35-year-old has scripted several unsurpassable records and given fans moments of magic. Now, just six months after his World Cup win, Messi has stirred up a storm in the soccer world once again with a bumper deal!

In a move that stunned many, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner decided to join Inter Miami earlier this month. This move has seen him dominate headlines due to the amount he will bank from David Beckham. However, a recent report has shed light on his potential off-field earnings.

Per Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen, Messi’s two-and-a-half-year contract, which includes an option for 2026, will help him make $50 million to $60 million annually. The amount will include his salary, signing bonus, and team equity. He is also likely to have an ownership stake in the team once he is done playing for them. Revenue-sharing agreements with league partners and brands like Apple, Adidas, and more are currently being negotiated. This means the soccer star now stands to pocket up to $150 million every year!

This means that the former Barcelona star will effectively surpass the likes of LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Tiger Woods, and many others to become the “highest paid US athlete.”

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Comparing Lionel Messi’s MLS earnings to those of Tiger Woods, LeBron James, and Patrick Mahomes

Mere months ago, Tiger Woods and LeBron James were among the dozen new entrants into the 2023 World’s Billionaires Ranking. The 15-time major champion is now set to be overhauled by soccer star Lionel Messi. The golfer, who reportedly made close to $70 million in earnings in 2022, has taken a backseat in golf this year due to his persistent injury setbacks.

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LeBron James is all set to make nearly $47 million in the coming season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both James and Messi regularly feature on the highest-paid athletes’ lists. In fact, the 2023 Forbes list featured Messi at number two, above the 4th-placed NBA superstar.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had previously claimed the richest contract in NFL history. As a result, the two-time Super Bowl MVP makes a whopping $45 million in yearly salary! Despite becoming the highest-paid player in his sport, Mahomes is still considerably behind Messi in annual earnings.

Messi’s pay from Inter Miami will eclipse Mahomes’ NFL salary and James’ NBA earnings by $3 million to $13 million.?

What do you make of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami deal? Do you think it could change the American sporting landscape?