Thanks to Lionel Messi’s deep pockets, security guards of Argentina’s national team finally got their six months unpaid salaries. Although reports did not indicate how much the five-time FIFA Player of the Year awardee shelled out from his personal funds, he certainly could afford to be generous.
According to Forbes, the Argentinean athlete, Lionel Messi, is the eighth highest-paid celebrity with an estimated 2016 earnings of $81.5 million. About 65 percent of that amount came from his salary as player of Barcelona, while 35 percent is from endorsements.
National Federation Has No Money
The security guards of the Argentina national team, who have been tightening their belts for the past six months, could no longer endure their financial situation and told Lionel Messi of their situation. The lack of salaries is because the national federation has no money and is operated by an inept FIFA committee.
Lionel Messi is no longer surprised by the security guards’ complaint because he is aware of the committee’s failures since the athlete also complained of an unorganized set-up, below standards travel accommodations and poor set-up when the national team competed in the Copa America Centenario in the U.S., Foxsports reported.
The FIFA committee took over the national association after the resignation of Luis Segura, the president, in June over misuse of funds. Because of the mess, Lionel Messi had retired from the national team but returned again, according to Sports lllustrated. He was the key to Argentina’s 3-0 win over Colombia on Tuesday.
Question Over Contract Renewal
Meanwhile, Bleacherreport cited a story in Marca, a Spanish daily, that claimed Lionel Messi is not interested in renewing his contract with Barcelona when it expires in June 2018. However, Diario Sport, belied Marca’s claim and said the Madrid-based newspaper is only getting even for Barcelona’s snub of Marca’s award gala in October. Barcelona would have a new main sponsor, Rakuten, a Japanese firm, for the next four seasons which would earn the club €55 million each season.
