If anyone deserves to be the highest paid athlete in their sport, it's Lionel Messi.
In the past eight years Messi has won FIFA's player of the year award five times, won the European golden boot award (top scorer) four times and been the top scorer in the Champions League five times. Quite simply, he's been absolutely dominant. On top of all of his goal scoring records, he's just been incredibly fun to watch, literally leaving defenders on the ground as he dribbles around them with absolute ease and grace.
With only months remaining on his contract Messi signed an extension that will give him the highest salary in team professional sports by a long shot. Bleacher Report did a breakdown of Messi's new deal and the numbers are totally absurd.
If you convert Messi's salary to US dollars the Barca star is raking in $82.7 million a year -- which is nearly $50 million more than Clayton Kershaw is making and more than $55 million than Matthew Stafford's annual salary (not including signing bonus).
Oh, and on top of Messi's massive annual salary, the man made $118 million for just signing the deal. That's $40 million more than the team with the highest cap total in the NHL, and would rank 7th on the MLB payroll list just above the New York Yankees ($116,999,999).
