Leaked Contract Shows Barcelona Pays Lionel Messi The Biggest Salary In Sports History

Spanish newspaper El Mundo is reporting (behind a paywall) that it has gotten a copy of Lionel Messi's current contract with Barcelona and that the 33-year-old will will have earned a mindboggling amount of money over the last four years. The newspaper reports the number is €555,237,619. In current dollars, that amounts to $670,754,805.63 over four seasons.

Keep in mind this contract that expires in June will have paid Messi an average of $167,688,701 per year when it's finally completed.

Barcelona now finds itself in a "dreadful financial position," according to The Daily Mail, because the leaked contract has led to a war between those in the Argentine media who defend Messi's salary and those in Spain who say it has crippled the soccer club.

Messi contract incentives:

• €695,748 ($840,282) for winning FIFA's Best Player award

• €3.5m ($4,227,090) if Barcelona wins the Champions League

• €1.9m ( $2,295,048) if Messi plays 60% of Barcelona matches

• Extra payments for each knockout stage of the Champions League Barcelona reaches

• Payments for winning La Liga

• Payments for winning Copa del Rey

"In view of the information published today in the newspaper El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties" the club said in a statement.

"FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.

"FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history."