Professional sports teams invest significant amounts of money in order to acquire and retain top talent. The biggest sports contract of all time, worth an estimated 674 million U.S. dollars, belonged to soccer star Lionel Messi. However, these large contracts are not limited to just soccer, but are also seen in other sports such as basketball, baseball, and American football. Many professional athletes are considered superstars, and their talent and marketability can bring significant financial value to a team.
Lionel Messi’s contract renewal at FC Barcelona in 2017 was considered a landmark contract as it was the biggest sports contract of all time. The contract was worth approximately 674 million U.S. dollars over four years, and it reflected the immense value that the diminutive Argentine forward represented to the Catalan club. Given the honors and titles that Messi won while at Barcelona, it was no wonder that the club was willing to spend hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to retain his services.
Mike Trout is a baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB), and is considered one of the best players in the league. In 2019, he signed a 12-year contract extension with the Angels worth a total of 426.5 million U.S. dollars. The contract is one of the largest in the history of professional sports, and it was the biggest contract in baseball history at the time it was signed. The deal was also the longest contract in MLB history, and it guaranteed that Trout would remain with the Angels until the end of the 2030 season.
NBA. NBA generates huge sums of money yearly – from sponsorship rights to income generated from NBA odds. Basketball is the highest-paid sport in the world, with an average annual NBA salary in 2023 of nearly $10.5 million.
As of March 7, 2024, Stanley Kroenke has a net worth of US$15.7 billion, making him the wealthiest person in the sports industry. Jerry Jones follows in second place with $13.8 billion, while Robert Kraft ranks third with $11.1 billion, and Arthur Blank comes in fourth with $8.5 billion.
Polish player Iga Swiatek topped the list of the highest-paid female athlete last year, with almost $24 million in estimated total income earned on and off the court. Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu and fellow tennis player Coco Gauff follow behind, both with earnings topping $20 million in 2023.
The Global Arena: Soccer's Reign as the Most Watched Sport
Ah, soccer, or as it's known in most parts of the world, football *which is very different from American football*. This vastly popular sport has an estimated 4 billion fans, making it the most watched sport in the world!
Patrick Mahomes tops the list with his historic contract. The star quarterback signed a 10-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth up to $503 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. The contract includes $477 million in guarantee mechanisms and will keep Mahomes with the Chiefs until 2031.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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