As the recipient of seven Ballon d’Ors–the most granted to any single individual in the award’s history–professional soccer player Lionel Messi is considered by many to be one of the most talented footballers to ever step on the pitch. In the FIFA sphere, that massive level of prestige comes with a corresponding degree of hefty profits. The Argentinian sportsman, who spent two decades playing for Barcelona (where he scored a record number of goals for a single club) up until his switch to Paris Saint-Germain last year, was named Forbes’s number one highest-paid athlete in 2019 and 2022.
Messi has certainly put that money to use, collecting a fleet of luxury cars, vacationing in $10,000-a-night rental properties, building a hotel empire, and of course, investing in a number of luxury properties. Below, we outline some of the impressive real estate dealings that the soccer star has made throughout his career.
2009
For over a decade, Messi’s primary residence was the Barcelona-adjacent abode that he paid $2 million for in 2009, which was also around the time he won his first Ballon d’Or. Located in Castelldefels, an exclusive coastal city about 15 miles from the Catalonian capital, the estate has a current estimated value of $7 million. The legendary athlete and his wife, Antonela, invested millions of dollars into the property, including the purchase of an adjacent plot of land (reportedly, he bought out his neighbor’s house because they were too loud).
The large private compound hosted a gym, spa, theater, pool, a large terrace for lounging and barbecuing, and a personal-sized soccer field to practice and play on with his three young children and his huge French Mastiff named Hulk. Inside, the modern home was decorated in cozy neutrals and boasted views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Catalan hills from its numerous terraces and sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows. The mansion was conveniently located only 12 miles from Camp Nou, the FC…