David Beckham shocked the world after Inter Miami won the race to sign arguably the greatest player of all time. Lionel Messi‘s transfer to MLS became the talk of the town due to the amount he will bank from the new deal. Moreover, he is set to become the fifth Highest Paid athlete per year in the United States. Not to mention, the World Cup Champion will effectively surpass the likes of LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Tiger Woods, and many others in the future.

Despite becoming the ?highest-paid US athlete?, Messi couldn’t surpass one NBA icon. Interestingly, the NBA Icon, Michael Jordan, surpasses the World Cup Champion in the net worth comparison. But who is the richest athlete among these two? Let’s find out.

Net worth comparison: NBA Legend Michael Jordan surpasses the ?highest-paid US athlete? Lionel Messi

Argentina’s Lionel Messi was the highest-paid athlete back in 2021-22, with a total earning of $130 million, claimed by Genuine Impact Newsletter. Messi is one of the most recognized soccer players worldwide. Furthermore, the historic deal that brought Messi to Inter Miami has stirred up a storm in the soccer world.

The seven-time Ballon d?Or winner is set to earn between $50 and $60 million dollars per year in Miami. 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 departs from the club.

Furthermore, revenue-sharing agreements with league partners and brands like Apple, Adidas, and more are currently being negotiated. This will help the soccer star to pocket up to $150 million every year. Messi will earn a lot of benefits from Inter Miami’s deal and most probably become the Highest-Paid athlete in the world.

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Although Messi has already surpassed many famous athletes such as LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and Tiger Woods, he’s still a lot of steps behind to create a legacy like Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

Furthermore, he’s also the richest former professional athlete in the world with a net worth of $2 billion. Despite being one of the highest-paid athletes and having a net worth of $600 million, Messi doesn’t come close to Jordan’s legacy and fame.?Hence, Michael Jordan is the undisputed leader when it comes to the highest-paid athletes in history.

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