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After 17 years of magical service, 672 unforgettable goals, and 35 trophies the unthinkable has finally happened. Lionel Messi has left Barcelona. No sooner had it looked like he was staying in Catalonia, disaster struck Barcelona's. Financial woes have dealt a devastating new blow with laliga refusing to ratify Messi's new contract due to breaches of their salary cap. The 34-year-old has gone to Paris taking with him all the prestige and glamour that accompanies a player of his status.
This is naturally devastating for Barcelona from both an economical and emotional standpoint but critics fear it could also present a disaster for laliga who have now lost their two greatest assets in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Despite the dominance, Messi provided Barcelona, hardly a single individual among their opposition wanted to see him gone. Getafe's president, Angel Torres blasted his loss. Stating, '' laliga can't afford to lose Messi. We would be making a mistake that we would all regret the best player in the world has to retire in Spain.'' Torres is also a socio or paid member of Real Madrid where there have been similar calls within Barcelona's great rivals for Messi to stick with la Liga. Only 12 months ago when the forward push for a move Real Madrid's then captain Sergio Ramos pleaded for Messi to stay. This summer was no different.
The reliable Spanish radio station on the Serra reported that Los Blancos were willing to appeal for la Liga to be flexible over Messi's contract situation. Why? because the argentine's commercial value is essential in the marketability of the league. El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona is typically the second-highest watch game in club football after the champions league final. Though, it has been suggested viewing figures can hit the 650 million mark.
In 2017 Forbes estimated that number was likely to be around 130 million. These are still colossal viewing figures with Messi and Ronaldo's great rivalry fuelling a growth in interest in El Clasico over the past decade. Messi's individual net worth to Barcelona can also not be understated. A report by El Mundo revealed that the former captain had been paid a staggering 555 million euros since signing his new deal four seasons ago. Considering the mass debt and financial issues currently haunting the blah grana, that is an astonishing number.
However a public report by a number of economists fronted by mark Celia, a Barcelona socio found that Messi more than recovered his lofty salary. It has been estimated that in the past three years the 34-year-old made the Catalonians a profit of 235,610,000 euros. Having generated just shy of 620 million euros in that time, 30 percent of the club's overall revenue. So, how does he do it? Sponsors looking to work with Barcelona reportedly have two options. One without and one including Messi, the latter could bump the overall sponsorship value by 50%. It's also estimated that the club earns around 60 million euros a year just from social media posts featuring the Argentinian captain while around five to ten percent of tourists visiting Barcelona come to see Messi in action and then there's the small matter of his shirt sales.
It's estimated that eight out of every nine Barca shirts sold carry his name, numbering two million tops a season. Forbes calculated that net Barcelona an additional 37 million euros annually. The reality is that once revenue from matchday tickets vip experiences and media rights are included, Messi generates on average double what his teammates are capable of. This is critical for la liga as a strong Barcelona benefits the entire division from transfer fees trickling down through the spanish football pyramid to audiences being drawn to the competition.