Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James, or Lionel Messi: Who is the highest-paid athlete in the USA?
In the wake of Lionel Messi's arrival, find out who is the top earning athlete in USA.
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(L) LeBron James (NBA), (M) Patrick Mahomes (NFL) and (R) Lionel Messi (Soccer) Image credit [CNN/FOX/Goal.com]
Since MLS club Inter Miami signed soccer star Lionel Messi, there has been a recurring debate about who is the best-paid athlete on American soil. There are a number of high-profile players in various sports throughout the country who earn a big dime. When talking about the best-paid players, names like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes come to mind. They are the best in their fields and expertise, but how do their wages fare when compared to Lionel Messi’s?
The best Soccer player ever coming to play in Miami was the biggest coup ever in American sporting history, according to some analysts. He had several options in his hand. The Argentine could have gone to Saudi Arabia or back to his favorite, Barcelona. But he chose to possibly see out his career in Florida, where he had a property beforehand. Thus, he will be able to stay close to his family and live a life of luxury.
Lionel Messi reportedly signed a yearly $54 million deal with Inter Miami that excludes his stake in the club and signing bonus. The contract will run from July 1, 2023, until late December 2025. Besides the contract, the World Cup winner is in talks with MLS’s two partners, Adidas and Apple, for a deal.
Do Patrick Mahomes and LeBron James earn as much as Lionel Messi?
The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season, and their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes took home his second ring. Naturally, most will think that the 27-year-old is the best-paid player or quarterback in the league. However, that is not the case, as there are several others who make way more than the five-time Pro Bowler. For instance, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the chart with $52 million each year. On the other hand, Patrick Mahomes barely makes it into the top 10 highest-paid quarterbacks. He had signed a 10-year deal worth $45 million every year, according to Sportac, which will end in 2027. If the Chiefs decide to give him a new contract, then it will eventually increase to $60 million.
LeBron James is considered to be among the top Basketball players ever to step foot on an NBA court. So it’s no surprise that the 38-year-old would be one of the highest-paid players in the league today. James signed a two-year extension to his Los Angeles Lakers contract worth $97.1 million last year. The four-time NBA champion would earn around $47 million in his first year and $50 million in his second. James undeniably earns more than Patrick Mahomes yearly but still falls short of Messi by $4 million.
Despite all of their riches, both Mahomes and LeBron James fall short of Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry. He reportedly takes home $51 million, but it will keep on increasing, and by 2025–2026, the 37-year-old will earn around $59 million.
Patrick Mahomes may not have the most lucrative paycheck for now, but if he can help the Chiefs make a 3-peat, then he surely will be rewarded handsomely. Nevertheless, the Soccer star Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in the States for now.
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Ishan Misra
(3057 Articles Published)