And it is fair to say that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has earned a few quid over his 20-year career, Forbes saying he raked in a $130million (approximately £108m) in 2022.

Forbes also say his Paris Saint-Germain contract sees him earn $75m (approximately £62m) as an annual salary, while bonuses including appearance fees and signing-on fees, as well as extra cash added to the pot through sponsorship deals with adidas and Pepsi.

Add that to Messi’s growing real estate portfolio and the 35-year-old is bringing in some serious dough. He has properties in Barcelona, Miami, Paris and hometown Rosario.

His mansion in Barcelona was where he lived during his time at the club with the house just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels.

Valued at £5.5m, the Messi abode had an indoor gym, swimming pool, football pitch and a playground for his three children.

But having moved to PSG, Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo have since taken up residence in a two-story property in the exclusive area of Neuilly-Sur-Seine.

6One of Messi’s properties includes a luxury mansion in Barcelona6Messi’s Barca pad is just 12 miles from the Nou Camp, and a load of football shirtsCredit: Instagram/@lionelmessiMOST READ IN FOOTBALL

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He only rents the property, which is considered one of the most luxurious homes in Paris, though. It’s understood to cost him around £17,500-a-month (€20,000-a-month).

But the footballing icon had to renege on one of his demands with the home not containing an indoor swimming pool but that has done little to dissuade him on his love of the city of Paris.

“I like Paris a lot, I’m discovering the city and it’s magnificent,” he said in the first months of joining PSG.

“There was a big change the first year. It wasn’t my goal to leave Barca and everything happened abruptly. But after a long time and going through difficult times, I’m happy to live here. My family and I are enjoying Paris.”

However, Messi’s contract at PSG will expire at the end of the season and there is every chance that he could leave with a return to Barcelona or a shock move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami also touted.

To go from competing in the Champions League to being coached by Phil Neville would be quite the change of scenery for Messi, but he would feel comfortable moving into his luxurious Miami property.

6Messi splashed out £5m on a Miami condoCredit: Regalia Miami Condos6There are gorgeous ocean views surrounding the apartmentCredit: Regalia Miami Condos

In 2020, Messi splashed out £5m on an apartment on Sunny Isles Beach.

This is no little flat – it is enormous. The magnificent condo has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, 360-degree views of the gorgeous Miami skyline, access to six pools, its own private pool and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar.

The complex also has a champagne bar, spa, fitness centre, playground and yoga studio on its grounds.

However, it was reported by The Sun in 2021 that Messi put this property on the market, which might dampen speculation that he is preparing to leave Europe for the USA this summer.

Though around the same time, Messi paid nearly £6m for the entire ninth floor at the Regalia, a modern 39-story Saint Isles Beach and just ten blocks away from his other Miami residence.

6Messi’s Miami condo is some padCredit: Regalia Miami Condos

But perhaps looking at the superstar’s moves in the real estate world as an indicator over his transfer intentions is misguided, considering that he has properties all over the world.

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Messi recently acquired a £9.5m mansion in Ibiza as a holiday home, to go alongside his hotel on the party island, a £3m house in Rosario dubbed ‘The Fortress’ that contains an underground garage where many of the Argentine’s supercars reside.

He also has six houses in Italy, including a gorgeous mansion in Como Lombardy next to the Ceresio River, and owns the 77-room MiM Sitges hotel, potentially signalling his plans to become a real estate mogul after his playing days are over.