Argentina's star player has announced retirement from the national football team after representing for more than two decades. He played his first match for Argentina in 2005 and announced retirement in 2026 after 207 caps and 125 goals for the South American nation. The master dribbler has made a fortune of over a billion dollars throughout his career. The 39-year-old is considered one of the best as well as one of the richest footballers in the sport's history.

Messi announced his retirement on Monday, August 31, 2026. Over the course of his career, the athlete has helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America. According to Forbes, Messi earned around $1.8 billion throughout his career, including playing income as well as money earned through endorsements and other commercial deals. The total net worth, at the time of his retirement, is estimated to be around $1.1 billion, making him one of the handful of players who became billionaires while actively playing.

A huge part of that fortune came during his extraordinary spell at Barcelona. Messi spent 17 seasons with the Spanish giants after breaking into the first team as a teenager. He won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies before leaving the club in 2021. He then spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami in 2023.

His move to Major League Soccer turned out to be much more than another playing contract. Messi's Miami deal includes significant commercial benefits, while his arrival also helped drive the club's value, ticket sales and global profile. Forbes estimated Messi's 2026 income at $140 million, split roughly evenly between money earned on the field and off it.