There is no player in the history of world football who is distinguished in terms of material and morale, like the Argentine star Lionel Messi, whether in his country or with his Spanish team Barcelona, until everyone is speaking out at the level of coaches or management.
At the level of salary, he is the most expensive player in history, and he tops the list of the highest paid players by a very large margin ahead of his Portuguese rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the two were the first footballers to enter the billion-dollar club last year.
On this day
📆 March 10, 2007
👑 # Messi scored the first hat-trick in his professional career with the # Barcelona shirt
⚽ That was against Real Madrid in the match # El Clásico pic.twitter.com/bUSsk0PIs9
FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) March 10, 2021
The British newspaper "Daily Mail" reported that Messi gets an annual salary - before taxes - of $ 148 million, and Ronaldo gets about 63 million.
Despite the financial difficulties and debts plaguing Barcelona, the club's management did not spare the Argentine star, who only wore the Blaugrana shirt, and gave him an annual salary of more than $ 9.7 million, almost double the salary Ronaldo gets with Juventus, which is estimated at 5.2 million.
💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/I2MNpZawkl
FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) March 17, 2021
The refusal of the former Ronaldo club, Real Madrid, to his request to increase his salary to approach Messi's salary, was one of the main reasons that prompted the Portuguese star to leave in 2018 to Juventus, especially since his speech was not heard with the royal like his rival in Barcelona.
The Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, had revealed the details of Messi's secret contract with Barcelona, which makes him the most expensive in history without a competitor, and said that the player had cost the Catalan club more than 555 million euros.
The figures published by the Spanish newspaper showed that the last contract Messi signed with Barcelona in November 2017 awarded the player 138 million euros (about $ 165 million) annually.
And the matter does not stop at financial distinction only, but that his moral distinction is much greater, there is no player or coach in Barcelona who does not address the friendliness of the team's legend and its first star, and the new coach Ronald Koeman tried to break this fixed rule after assuming responsibility at the beginning of the current season, but he quickly retreated and started He exaggerates his distinction and praise him, especially after the departure of the board of directors that appointed him, after realizing that his continuation with the team may depend on the extent of Messi’s satisfaction with him.
👋 Hala Thursday 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/E4pzCydrPs
FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) March 18, 2021
Observers of body language and Koeman's statements are aware of the enormous transformation in Coman's dealings with the Argentine star, and he has contributed to that great brilliance for Messi since the disclosure of his secret contract, as if he was telling everyone I deserve this huge salary.
There is also no player in the world whose club president seeks to please him like Joan Laporta, the new Barcelona president, whose speech at his inauguration last Wednesday was focused on Messi, who was present and warmly embraced Laporta when he entered the venue.
Hugs.
Joan Laporta, Leo #Messi and Šarūnas Jasikevičius pic.twitter.com/c7HgtX0MRI
FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 17, 2021
Laporta assured that he would do his best to persuade Messi to stay with the team and renew his contract, which expires in June, and said, "I came to make decisions and persuade Leo to continue, and I used his presence to say that we will do everything we have to continue .. You know that you cannot." Leave, Leo, and we'll try to convince you. "
😇🙃🤯
🔜 # RealSociedadBarça 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sV9LG3mLqt
FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) March 20, 2021
Although Barcelona went through the biggest setback in the modern era after its historic 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season, everyone avoided not mentioning Messi in the attack on the team, but on the contrary they talked about building a new team around Messi.
The situation is not much different in the Argentine national team, where Messi receives special treatment, to the point that some accused him of controlling the team and its starting lineup.
🔙 In 2004, Messi scored a foursome against Sevilla in the # King's Cup for the U19 category 🏆
👑 Will the legend do it again this Wednesday in the semi-finals?
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🔜 # SevillaBarça 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CKccWlxfxV
FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) February 9, 2021