Lionel Messi
At a Glance
- Athlete Soccer
- Salary/Winnings: $20 M
- Endorsements: $19 M
- Age: 25
- Source of Wealth: Soccer
- Residence: Castelldefels, Spain
- Country of Citizenship: Argentina
- Marital Status: Single
- Agent: Guillermo Marin
Messi broke the 39-year record for most goals in a European club season in 2012 when he finished the season with 73. He also became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match. The Barcelona forward is a three-time FIFA Player of the Year. His biggest endorsement deal is with Adidas, but Messi also has pacts with PepsiCo, Herbalife, EA Sports, Cherry, Audemars Piguet, Dolce & Gabanna and others.
Will A Billionaire Buy Messi's Left Foot?
A Japanese jeweler unveiled today, in a famous jewelry shop in Tokyo, a pure gold replica of Lionel Messi’s left foot. The unique 25 kilograms solid sculpture was created by Ginza Tanaka and will go on sale tomorrow for $5.25 million.
“I’m honoured to have my foot recreated in pure gold,” said Messi in a video message during the presentation. Messi’s brother, Rodrigo, present at the unveiling, added: “It’s exceptional, you can see each line on the foot.”
Even though Messi is from Argentina and the artist is Japanese, the “Golden foot” is Spanish. It was made in Spain in the end of 2012, a year in which Messi scored the record breaking figure of 91 goals.
There are a number of billionaires who own stakes in soccer clubs. All of them would like to see the world’s best player in their squad. However, Messi, has recently signed a new contract with FC Barcelona, his beloved club. Maybe an eccentric billionaire would like to have Messi’s left foot for the “bargain” of $5.25 million.
If I had to bet, I would say Messi’s left foot gold replica will end up in Russia as a bunch of Russian billionaires are soccer aficionados. A few suspects would be: Sergei Galitsky, with a net worth of $8,2 billion; Rinat Akhmetov, the world’s #47th richest; and Roman Abramovich, who owns $10.2 billion and soccer club Chelsea.
Maybe Messi’s left foot will end up in Italy. Another main billionaire suspects is Silvio Berlusconi, who has a fortune of $6.2 billion. Berlusconi loves football and owns A.C. Milan. We have learned to expect anything from the bunga bunga king who started his career as a singer on cruise ships.
Another obvious suspect would be Florentino Perez, who has a net worth of $1.4 Billion and is the president of Real Madrid, Barcelona archrival.
Regardless of who buys Messi’s left foot, a cut of the funds raised will be destined to Messi’s charitable foundation and another part will go to a NGO supporting children in areas hit by the Japanese natural disasters of two years ago.
LEO MESSI WINS 4 BaLLON D OR HIGHEST TILL NOW IN THE HISTORY.
Footballer Leo Messi shows off his lookalike son Thiago
15 APRIL 2013
Footballer Leo Messi has shared a photo of his baby son for the first time. The cute snap shows the FC Barcelona player and his girlfriend Antonella Rocuzzo enjoying themselves at the beach with their five-month-old Thiago.
"Afternoon stroll with Thiago!" reads the caption, which was posted on the sports hero's Facebook page.
"Afternoon stroll with Thiago!" reads the caption, which was posted on the sports hero's Facebook page.
The Argentine striker has been out of action since early April because of a hamstring injury, which he picked up in a Champions League match against David Beckham's team Paris Saint-Germain.
"I will be back soon. Thankfully it was not so serious," said the 25-year-old, who won the Ballon D'Or, equivalent to a player of the year prize, for the fourth time in 2012.
Leo described himself as the" happiest man in the world" when the little boy was born on 2 November that year, adding: "Thanks to God for this gift!"
The footie star first revealed he was to become a father during a match in Argentina the previous June. After scoring a goal he jokingly stuffing a football up his shirt in celebration and later confirmed Antonella's pregnancy on Facebook.
In homage to his lookalike son, the player has a tattoo of his son's handprints and date of birth on his left calf.
"I will be back soon. Thankfully it was not so serious," said the 25-year-old, who won the Ballon D'Or, equivalent to a player of the year prize, for the fourth time in 2012.
Leo described himself as the" happiest man in the world" when the little boy was born on 2 November that year, adding: "Thanks to God for this gift!"
The footie star first revealed he was to become a father during a match in Argentina the previous June. After scoring a goal he jokingly stuffing a football up his shirt in celebration and later confirmed Antonella's pregnancy on Facebook.
In homage to his lookalike son, the player has a tattoo of his son's handprints and date of birth on his left calf.
LEO BRINGS THIAGO IN A FOOTBAAL MATCH END.
