How much did Messi’s incredible mansion in Miami cost?

It’s taken Lionel Messi little time to settle in at Inter Miami and the Argentina captain has taken the next step towards turning Florida into his new home. After agreeing to join the club at the beginning of June and officially signing for The Herons in mid-July, the Miami Herald have reported that Messi has bought his first house in the area, which you won’t be surprised to hear didn’t come cheap.

Messi’s on-field impact at Inter Miami

On the field, the former Barcelona playmaker couldn’t have dreamed of making a better start to his stateside career. Since his debut against Liga MX club Cruz Azul on 21 July, Inter Miami are undefeated in 12 matches, won their first ever trophy (the 2023 Leagues Cup), have reached the final of the US Open Cup and have moved off the bottom of both the MLS’ Eastern Conference and overall standings. Prior to his arrival, they hadn’t won in 11 league matches, a run of form which cost Phil Neville his job. Messi himself has scored 11 goals in 11 appearances, as well as providing five assists.

Argentine superstar and David Beckham enjoying off-field bromance

Off the field, sales of Inter Miami merchandise have skyrocketed, their social medias accounts have ballooned and ticket prices have soared. Emi Danieluk, the brand ambassador for a local chain of Argentine steakhouses called Baires Grill, told The New York Times that Messi’s presence in the United States had given Argentinian culture, products and food more exposure.

As for the player himself, rarely have a few days passed without him hanging out with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, with their friendship (can we say bromance?) well documented on Instagram.

Where is Messi’s new house in Miami? How big is it?

Messi and wife Antonella Roccuzzo have wasted little time in making Miami their new home and they have now settled on a permanent base after months of house-hunting, buying a waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale.

They have splashed out $10.8 million on a 10,500-square-foot, eight-bedroom estate in Bay Colony, which is five miles from Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium and training centre, which is next door. According to a 2022 listing for the home, the property, which was built in 1988 and expanded in 2000, has 170 feet of water frontage with two docks, a waterfront pool, a gym/spa room and an Italian kitchen, while the primary suite covers 1,600 square feet.

How much does the former Barcelona star earn with Inter Miami?

Despite having only recently joined Inter Miami, this isn’t Messi’s first foray into the property market in Florida. The Argentine is said to have bought an apartment in the luxury Porsche Design Tower in 2019, which he then sold two years later. In 2021, he snapped up another waterfront condo in Sunny Isles Beach for a reported $7.3 million.

When you’re earning between $50 million and $60 million per year, you can afford to go upmarket...