A Lionel Messi car costs more than the full year income that basketball billionaire Michael Jordan earns: Once a golden symbol, helping to ‘beat’ CR7 in a 4-wheel war

From Mercedes-AMGs to Cadillacs and Range Rovers, Lionel Messi’s garage has no shortage of luxury cars.

With an estimated fortune of $ 600 million (according to Celebrity Net Worth) and the second highest paid athlete in the world, it is not surprising that Messi owns the most expensive collection of cars in the sports world, including including a Ferrari 335 S Scaglietti Spider worth $36 million (equivalent to VND 846 billion).

According to Supercar Blondie, this cost is more than what former basketball player Michael Jordan earned during the whole season when he played for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA (American Professional Basketball League). Specifically, the legendary Michael Jordan “only” earned $ 33 million (equivalent to 775 billion) in the 1997/98 season and he was the highest paid basketball player in the NBA at that time.

But Michael Jordan became the first billionaire athlete in the sports industry in 2014. According to Forbes estimates, billionaire Michael Jordan now owns a fortune of $ 2 billion.

Argentine player Lionel Messi (left) and billionaire sportsman Michael Jordan (right). Photo: Supercar Blondie.

This is the most expensive car in the fleet of supercars that he owns. According to Goal.com, the Argentine striker bought this model at an auction in February 2016 in Paris (France). He paid a higher price than player Cristiano Ronaldo to be able to buy a unique “horse”.

Only four Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti models were ever built, and only three have survived.

Ferrari 335 S Scaglietti Spider, also known as “the prancing horse of 1957”, is equipped with a V12 engine, naturally aspirated, 4.0L capacity, a huge mechanical capacity of 400 horsepower and can reach speed. 300km/h max. The Ferrari 335 S was one of the fastest cars at the time, able to reach a top speed of 300 km/h.

Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti. Photo: @shaun_malinga.

In fact, this car has been driven by some of the best drivers in the world, including British Formula 1 champion Mike Hawthorne. Also, British Formula One driver Sir Stirling Moss drove this famous red car at the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix and won. Since then, the Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti has become a symbol of the golden age of motorsport.

The 36-year-old also owns a Ferrari F430 Spyder. This convertible model features high-grade aluminum interior accents and luxuriously polished carbon fiber.

F430 Spyder is equipped with a V8 engine, naturally aspirated, 4.3L capacity, producing 480 horsepower and 465 Nm of torque. This car can reach a top speed of 315 km / h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in just 3.6 seconds.

Ferrari F430 Spyder. Photo: Ferrari.

Millionaire Lionel Messi’s garage also contains many other notable models, such as the $2 million Pagani Zonda Tricolore (equivalent to VND 47 billion). This sports car is equipped with a 7.3-liter V12 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Lionel Messi can lead Cristiano Ronaldo in the car “war”, he is still behind the Portuguese player in terms of income. In May, Forbes released a list of the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world.

Leading the ranking is Cristiano Ronaldo with a total income of $ 136 million, including a salary of $ 46 million on the pitch and $ 90 million from cooperation contracts. Lionel Messi was named in second place, with a total income of $ 130 million, earned from $ 65 million on the pitch and $ 65 million from cooperation contracts.

Standing in the top 3 is French player Kylian Mbappé, with a total income of 120 million USD.

Car Pagani Zonda Tricolore. Photo: DNA India.

Before that, for 2 consecutive years 2021 and 2022, the position of millionaire Lionel Messi in this list changed, but he was named in the top 2 and surpassed Ronaldo.