Lionel Messi

On June 24, 1987, Lionel Messi was born in the province of Santa Fe. He began playing football for Grandoli, a club coached by his father, when he was five years old. Messi joined Newell's Old Boys in 1995. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficit when he was 11 years old.

He was quickly promoted to the Barcelona B club, where he scored 35 goals in 30 games, averaging more than a goal per game. Lionel Messi is frequently touted as today's best soccer player, with Cristiano Ronaldo as his lone rival. He has won FIFA Player of the Year five times, and his playing contract is replete with bonuses for such achievements, making him one of the highest-paid players on the field.

With $127 million in earnings, Messi leads Forbes' 2019 list of the richest sportsmen, thanks to his $80 million-per-year contract playing for Barcelona and his several top-tier endorsement deals, including his lifelong collaboration with Adidas. Messi's fortune is well-deserved, since he has won FIFA Player of the Year five times.

Messi and the other footballers on the list should benefit from the tremendous popularity of NFTs in the sport.

Net worth: $280 million

Country: Rosario, Argentina