Is Braithwaite richer than Messi?
While Martin Braithwaite briefly became FC Barcelona‘s richest player after Lionel Messi‘s departure, the Argentine football legend still boasts a significantly higher net worth overall. Messi‘s current net worth is estimated to be around $600 million – more than double Braithwaite‘s $250 million fortune.
Lionel Messi: The $600 million football icon
With $130 million in total yearly earnings, Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the richest athletes on earth. According to Forbes, he was the world‘s highest paid athlete as of 2022. This income comes primarily from lucrative endorsement deals with Adidas, Pepsi, Budweiser, Hard Rock Cafe and more.
Messi‘s salary and bonuses from playing club football have also been astronomical. He was earning around $168 million per year in his final years at Barcelona, and now makes $75 million at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as their star player.
| Lionel Messi‘s Career Earnings | |
|---|---|
| Club contracts | $700 million (estimated) |
| Endorsements | Over $500 million |
| Total career earnings | $1.2 billion |
With 7 Ballon d‘Or trophies, 6 European Golden Shoes and countless club titles, Messi is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time. His mesmerizing dribbling skills and phenomenal goalscoring record have made him an iconic player who enjoys a massive global following. Brands are willing to pay tens of millions per year to associate themselves with Messi.
While his move to PSG after 21 years at Barcelona was a shock, Messi took the change in his stride while continuing to shine on the pitch. He helped lead Argentina to the 2022 World Cup trophy in Qatar in what was one of his career‘s greatest highlights.
Given his continued success at age 35, Messi likely has many more years of stellar earnings ahead as both a player and brand ambassador. With his current net worth estimated at $600 million, he has already cemented his status as one of the richest athletes ever.
How Braithwaite quietly built a $250 million fortune
Martin Braithwaite‘s annual salary at Barcelona was reportedly around $5 million – far less than Messi‘s mega paychecks. However, the Danish forward has amassed an estimated $250 million net worth largely through his savvy investments in the real estate sector.
Unlike Messi, the majority of Braithwaite‘s wealth comes from smart business activities off the pitch rather than footballing income and endorsements. He co-founded NYCER Group, a real estate investment company that owns an array of high-value properties in the U.S., France, and Spain.
| Braithwaite‘s Assets | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| NYCER Group | $250 million |
| Barcelona restaurant | $2 million |
| Clothing brands | $8 million |
Braithwaite also brings in extra income from fashion labels like WorldCraft and WYLAB, his ‘Gave‘ restaurant in Barcelona, and smaller partnerships with brands like Arvin Goods and Tapp Water.
The 31-year-old has played for clubs like Toulouse, Middlesbrough, Bordeaux and Leganes. After joining Barcelona in 2020, he became the club‘s emergency signing to fill their striker shortage. While not one of the team‘s star players, Braithwaite accomplished a dream by signing for one of the world‘s most famous clubs.
Off the pitch, Braithwaite seems to have been prudent with managing his finances. He has smartly invested a significant portion of his footballing income into building a real estate empire. While Braithwaite won‘t attract the lucrative sponsorships afforded to players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he certainly hasn‘t struggled for money thanks to his business ventures.
Who‘s the smarter investor?
When comparing the two players, Messi boasts a far greater net worth largely due to his outrageous earnings potential as a global superstar both during and after his playing career. While Braithwaite has proven himself a shrewd investor in real estate, his net worth isn‘t in the same galaxy as Messi‘s.
However, Braithwaite does deserve credit for his business acumen to create wealth outside of football. Considering his journeyman career, building a $250 million fortune by age 31 is an impressive feat. Some analysts believe Braithwaite has been smarter than Messi in leveraging his resources towards investments that will pay off handsomely in the long run.
Messi certainly enjoys living a lavish lifestyle with expensive homes, cars, and vacations. But he has also been involved in charitable endeavors like founding the Leo Messi Foundation to aid vulnerable children. Both players have shown smarts in building their wealth, whether through endorsements or investments.
While Braithwaite briefly overtook Messi as Barcelona‘s richest player, the Argentine icon remains in a league of his own as not just one of the richest athletes, but one of the highest paid public figures in the world. His status as one of football‘s greatest ever players will continue opening doors to massive earnings potential even after hanging up his boots.
