Lionel Messi salary: how it compares to Australian earnings on the Salary Index
See where Lionel Messi's reported salary sits on the Australian Salary Index, and how to compare any job offer against national benchmarks.
Lionel Messi's reported yearly salary of around AU$21.8 million would place him at an index of roughly 20,100, far above the national line of 100 for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings.
What does Lionel Messi's salary mean on the Australian Salary Index?
When you're reading a job ad and comparing offers, the Salary Index helps you see where a pay figure sits against the national line. The national line is 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026). Every salary can be expressed as an index number: divide the yearly gross by $108,352 and multiply by 100.
So where does Lionel Messi's reported salary land? According to a sports salary database, Messi earns AU$21,818,160 per year playing for Inter Miami CF. That's roughly 201 times the national average. His index would be around 20,100. To put that in perspective, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $52,255 per year, which gives an index of 48.2. Messi's salary is over 400 times the minimum wage.
Why use the index for job ads?
The index works for any salary, whether it's a graduate role or a CEO package. For example, if you see a job ad offering $80,000, that's index 73.8 – below the national line. A role paying $120,000 is index 110.8. You can also compare by industry. For instance, the Retail trade industry index is 75.9, while Mining is 154.7. How the index works explains the full calculation.
Messi's salary and Australian awards
Messi's contract is not covered by an Australian modern award because he plays in the US. But if he were in an Australian award-covered job, his pay would have to meet the minimum rates set by the Fair Work Ombudsman. For example, the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award has a Level 1 minimum of $25.74 per hour from 1 July 2026. The Fair Work Commission increased award minima by 4.75% from that date. Pay guides list all current rates.
State and territory differences
If Messi's salary were earned in Australia, the state where he works would affect the comparison. The index varies: ACT is 109.9, WA is 106.9, NSW is 101.2, while Tasmania is 88.6. States has the full list. But Messi's salary is so far above the national line that state differences are negligible.
Tax and super considerations
For Australian employees, superannuation guarantee contributions are 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Messi's salary exceeds that cap, so the employer would only contribute on the base. Income tax for residents in 2026–27 is progressive: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. If Messi were a non-resident, different rates apply. Topics covers tax and super in more detail.
What this means for your job ad comparisons
When you're reading a job ad, you can quickly gauge the offer using the index. A salary of $150,000 is index 138.5 – well above the national line. An entry-level award rate of $25.74 per hour (full-time annualised to about $50,843) is index 46.9. Messi's salary is an extreme outlier, but the same calculation applies. The index gives you a consistent benchmark across industries and locations.
Final thought
Lionel Messi's reported salary is a fun example of how the index scales. But for most Australian workers, the relevant benchmarks are the national minimum wage, award rates, and industry averages. Use the Salary Index to compare any offer you receive.
Questions people ask
How does Lionel Messi's salary compare to the Australian average?
Based on publicly reported figures, Lionel Messi earns about AU$21.8 million per year. The Australian full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark is $108,352 (index 100). Messi's salary would be around index 20,100, meaning he earns roughly 201 times the national average. However, this is a cross-country comparison; his employment is in the US, not Australia.
What is the Salary Index and how is it calculated?
The Salary Index compares any yearly gross salary to the national line of 100, which represents full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352 as of May 2026). To calculate, divide the salary by $108,352 and multiply by 100. For example, the national minimum wage of $52,255 gives an index of 48.2. You can use the index to compare job offers across industries and states.
Would Lionel Messi pay Australian tax on his salary?
If Messi were an Australian resident for tax purposes, his salary would be subject to Australian income tax. For 2026–27, the tax rates (excluding Medicare) are nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. However, Messi works in the US, so US tax laws apply, and any Australian tax would depend on his residency status and any double-tax agreement.