Lionel Messis jumps to Paris

It happens: For the first time in his 17-year career, Lionel Messi no longer invites Spain home.

After a long break up with his previous club, FC Barcelona, ​​Mess is reportedly going north to join Paris Saint-Germain in Frances Ligue 1 according to ESPN. The deal is said to last two years, even if the value is not disclosed.

The departure of the fair from Barcelona marks the end of the era. He is only the second football player in the world to have earned more than $ 1 billion after his bitter rival Cristiano Ronaldo, and has long been considered the biggest active player in the sport. Under Camp Noun, the 34-year-old played in 778 matches and scored 672 goals and 268 assists. He won 35 titles and 78 awards, including a record six Ballon dOrs.

Messi has amassed more than $ 1.2 billion in pre-tax career income, $ 875 million on the ground and $ 375 million in recommendations Forbes estimates. This year, he was the world’s highest-paid footballer with $ 130 million ($ 97 million in salary and $ 33 million on recommendations from partners Adidas, Anheuser Busch InBev, Gatorade, Hard Rock Cafe Inc., Jacob & Co, Ooredoo, and Pepsi). And it could have been even higher: Forbes estimates that Messi lost $ 25-75 in salary and bonuses from pandemic-related salary increases over the past two seasons.

According to the Barcelona statement, the Fair and the club had reached an agreement the superstar remains in Spain, but due to economic and structural obstacles, trade could not take place. This points to a reduction in the La Ligas payroll pandemic, which lowered the total cost of the league to the salaries of the players $ 700 million last year. Barcelona itself has been full of financial difficulties with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported in January that the club was on the verge of bankruptcy. The latest financial information for clubs shows a loss $ 117 million in 2020 and $ 1.4 billion in debt.

We have exceeded the allowable salary limit. It’s that simple, President Laporta of Barcelona said at a news conference on Friday.

In the French capital, the arrival of Messis cement cement PSG as a powerhouse. The club has won seven of the last nine Ligue 1 championships, and is home to other global stars such as Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbapp. Both also landed Forbes list of the world’s highest paid athletes in 6th place ($ 95 million) and 31st place ($ 40 million). Neymar had played, according to ESPN active role In the recruitment process, Messi joined PSG on holiday together in Ibiza. After Messi is lost, Paris Saint-Germain now has three of the world’s four highest paid footballers.

By reporting Christina Settimi.