CELEBRITY
Messi puts luxurious £5.7m Miami penthouse on sale
Lionel Messi has cast his potential future transfer to David Beckham’s MLS franchise, Inter Miami, into doubt after putting his luxury penthouse in the Florida city up for sale.
Having dominated world football for much of the past two decades, Lionel Messi is already trying his hand at the game of real estate.
The 34-year-old has put his luxurious Miami penthouse up for sale for a cool asking price of £5.7million, despite only purchasing the condo seven months ago when he was still a Barcelona player.
That could be bad news for supporters of David Beckham’sMajor League Soccer franchise, Inter Miami, who are hoping Messi heads to Florida for a swan song before retiring.
However, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner still owns a property down the road, in the downtown Porsche Design Tower, which he purchased in 2019.
Messi’s other penthouse is back on the market, though, after the Paris Saint-Germain superstar opted to put it up for sale, according to AS.
Located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, the condo has an ocean view and is situated roughly 10 miles away from the famous Miami Beach.
Messi purchased the entire ninth floor in April, boasting four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, 2,100 square feet of terrace space and a 1,000-bottle wine cooler included.
The Barca legend even has his own brand of wine, a premium Malbec which is aptly named L10.
Whoever takes up the property will be able to enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Nevertheless, they could still end up living in the same city as Messi, whom Beckham is keen to bring stateside.
Mirror Footballexclusively revealed in August that Beckham had already held talks with the club regarding a move.
There the Argentina captain would link up with compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, who told ESPN in September: “I don’t want to get in trouble, I don’t know about Leo in Miami.
“He signed for two years with PSG… The club wants it, we’ll see.”
Reports have also indicated that club president Beckham will try to lure Messi to Florida by signing his good friend and ex-Barcelona team-mate, Luis Suarez.
Co-owner Jorge Mas has discussed the possibility of signing the forward up, revealing he is “optimistic” that “arguably the best player of all-time” will don Inter’s black and pink shirt one day.
“I think it will complete the legacy of the greatest player in our generation and will meet with the ambitions of the owners of Inter Miami to build a world-class team,” Mas said in an interview with the Miami Herald.
“David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time.”
A spanner in the works is that Messi has previously laid out plans to represent beloved Argentine outfit Newell’s Old Boys before retirement, although that was when he also claimed that he would never play for another European side.
Beckham, who gave the MLS an unprecedented boost in 2007 when he signed for LA Galaxy, reportedly hopes to have the superstar in Miami by 2023.
For now, Messi is contracted to PSG, the club which the former Manchester United midfielder emotionally hung up his boots at in 2013.
Now in the boardroom rather than on the pitch, Beckham’s job is to convince players to join his project, currently managed by ex-United team-mate Phil Neville.
However, the heat is on Neville after just two wins from Inter’s last 10 games which has seen them fail to make the play-offs this season.
But it seems Beckham’s role in recruitment is an easier one than being the boss, telling ESPN: “To be honest it’s not a difficult pitch, you just say Miami and they are like “okay!”
“When I chose Miami, there were a couple of reasons. It’s a great city, we have got a great fanbase but I also understand there is great talent in Miami and south Florida and I think we have a real opportunity.
“Miami as a city has that pull on players that have been playing in Europe and that are big stars and we have proved that already with Blaise [Matuidi] and Gonzalo.
-Mirror
Diego Maradona’s death “would have been avoided” if the medical team around him had done their job, his daughter Dalma accused on Tuesday at the trial of health professionals of the circumstances of the death of the Argentine football idol
Dalma, 38, the elder of Maradona’s two daughters with his ex-wife Claudia Villafañe, was a star witness on the 11th day of the trial in San Isidro (north of Buenos Aires). And like others since the start of the trial, she blamed the caregivers of her father’s final weeks and the framework of his convalescence.
” If they had done their job, (his death) would have been avoided,” Dalma said, referring to the medical team and in particular to three of the accused: attending physician and neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz.
” They deceived us (the family) in the most cruel way (…) They made us believe that the only possible option was to convalesce at home after his operation, in a house that was rented for the occasion in Tigre (north of Buenos Aires),” Dalma said.
According to them, ” it would be a serious home hospitalisation,” Diego would have everything like in a clinic, but in a house,” with 24/7 medical attention, medical equipment, an ambulance at the door permanently, she continued.
” It never happened,” she said in a statement often interrupted by tears. In this “disgusting, piss-smelling ” house, a doctor only came to see him from time to time.”
Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020, from a cardiorespiratory crisis complicated by pulmonary oedema, in this private residence, where he had been convalescing for two weeks after neurosurgery for a head hematoma.
Seven practitioners – doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses – are accused of “homicide with possible intent”, characterised when a person commits negligence while knowing that it can lead to death.
Mr. Luque, who was close to Maradona, ” was his primary care physician, and I didn’t think he was recommending something that wouldn’t be best for my father,” Dalma continued.
With his sister Gianinna ” we didn’t have much influence, we could say what we thought but didn’t decide anything .” Sometimes someone from the care team or from the entourage would say “that Dad was sleeping, sometimes that he didn’t want to see anyone,” that the best thing was not to disturb him. “
” In hindsight, we should have decided.”
Last Tuesday, Veronica Ojeda, ex-partner and mother of Maradona’s son born in 2013, testified that the star’s close entourage “kept him as if he were sequestered” in the last months of his life.
The practitioners on trial, who deny any responsibility for the death, are seeking sentences of 8 to 25 years in prison. The trial is expected to last until July, with one or two hearings per week.
–Le360 (with AFP)
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava found out the hard way that there are consequences for seeking an autograph from eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup winner Lionel Messi — he was hit with a CONCACAF disciplinary sanction.
As the final whistle blew on Inter Miami’s 1-0 Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City, secured by a brilliant second-half goal from Messi, the referee known as ‘El Gato’ approached the Argentina international.
He appeared to be asking for the striker’s shirt to join the Messi-mania, but it turned out he was actually requesting an autograph for a relative with special needs.
Despite the heartfelt request, Ortiz’s actions did not comply with CONCACAF’s code of conduct for officials.
“Upon investigation, CONCACAF has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs,” the North American football governing body said in a statement to ESPN.
Although the exact nature of the disciplinary action was not disclosed, CONCACAF added that Ortiz accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologised for his breach of protocol.
The first leg of the premier continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean was initially postponed due to a winter storm warning in the area.
Inter Miami will host Sporting in the return leg at Chase Stadium on Tuesday.
“The referee’s actions were not in accordance with the confederation’s code of conduct for match officials and the procedures in place for these types of requests.”
Reuters
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The world’s top athletes don’t just dominate on the field—they lead the way financially, too.
From football icons to basketball superstars, these elite performers are earning staggering sums through salaries, endorsements, and off-field ventures.
Using data from Sportico, sportsunlimitednews breaks down the top 10 highest-paid athletes globally.
10. Jon Rahm
On December 2023, Jon Rahm announced he was joining LIV Golf after a very successful stint at the PGA, earning 11 PGA Tour wins since joining in 2016. Now signed under LIV Golf, the Spaniard is considered one of the best-paid athletes in the world, accumulating $85.6 (€82.3/£68.55) million in winnings and $20 (€19.2/£16) million on endorsement deals
9. Kylian Mbappe
Following his massive transfer to Real Madrid in 2024, Kylian Mbappe is now ranked the 9th highest-paid athlete in the world. The French forward earns $85 (€81.6/£68.9) million in salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements, totalling $110 (€105/£88) million—a ‘galactico’ price tag for one of the best players in the world.
8. Karim Benzema
Another former Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema is ranked amongst the top ten best-paid athletes in the world following his move to Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia). The French striker earns $108 (€103/£86.4) million alongside $8 (€7.6/£6.4) million in endorsements.
7. Oleksandr Usyk
Up next, we have an undisputed heavyweight champion, who took down Tyson Fury for a second time in 2024. Oleksandr Usyk is arguably one of the best fighters in the world right now, and his earnings reflect that. The Ukrainian makes an average of $120 (€115/£96) million in winnings alongside $2 (€1.9/£1.6) million on endorsements, standing on $122 (€117/£97.7) million.
6. Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr. is in the final stages of his professional football career. The former Barcelona and PSG man has enjoyed a successful stint across multiple teams around the world. Now in Santos FC, the Brazilian star is still considered one of the highest-paid players in the world, earning a $108 (€103/£82) million salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements.
5. LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran and NBA star is ranked fifth in the world following his jaw-dropping $85 (€81.6/£68.3) million endorsement deals with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Alongside his endorsements, he cashes in a salary of $48.2 (€46.3/£38.6) million a year.
4. Lionel Messi
The Inter Miami star has one of the most lucrative contracts in world football. The Argentinian forward earns $60 (€57.6/£48) million a year, alongside $75 (€72/£60) million on endorsement deals. He is linked to Louis Vuitton, Mastercard and Pepsi.
3. Tyson Fury
The ‘Gypsie King’ is ranked third in the world, despite his recent losses and retirement announcement in late 2024. Fury cashed in $140 (€134.4/£112) million in winnings alongside $7 (€6.7/£5.6) million in endorsement deals, a very fruitful 2024 for the former British heavyweight champ.
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry can still boast of having the highest-paying salary in the NBA for the eighth straight year. According to ESPN, his Golden State deal is worth around $55 (€52/£41.2) million this season. On top of that, the American point guard earns $100 (€95/£79.9) million in endorsements.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo still ranks at the top as the best-paid athlete in the world. The Al-Nassr star earns a jaw-dropping $215 (€206/£171.9) million salary, alongside $45 (€43.1/£35.9) in endorsements from Armani, Herbalife, TAG Heuer, and Clear Shampoo.
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