Lionel Messi's illustrious football career has amassed a vast fortune, but even off the field, success in business is not always guaranteed.

According to recently published financial reports, the Argentine superstar's real estate company, Rostower, incurred a loss of nearly 8,7 million USD in the 2024 fiscal year. Spanish financial and economic publication Cinco Dias reported that this loss escalated Rostower's financial deficit by 317% compared to the previous year.

Messi during an Inter Miami match in MLS 2025. Photo: Reuters

Rostower's core business involves leasing urban properties, including residential units, hotels, retail spaces, and offices. The company's current market value is approximately 260 million USD. The nearly 8,7 million USD loss is primarily attributed to a 6,7 million USD decline in the valuation of its real estate investments. This indicates a decrease in the company's asset value rather than a cash outflow or operational deficit.

Despite the reported loss, Rostower still generated 8,2 million USD in income for Messi, who holds 100% ownership, primarily through rental revenue. This figure, however, represents a 3,9% decrease from the previous year.

Since late 2013, the former Barcelona and PSG star has consolidated his real estate assets under Rostower. In late 2024, the company transitioned into a Publicly Traded Real Estate Investment Company (SOCIMI) and began trading on the Spanish Stock Exchange Portfolio.

The 38-year-old player's current portfolio includes a diverse range of properties. For example, he owns multiple apartments in upscale areas such as the Sarria-Sant Gervasi district and the Castelldefels municipality in Barcelona. His holdings also include a 445 square meter penthouse in London, a 395 square meter apartment in central Paris, and another property in Ibiza. In the office sector, Messi has assets in Sitges and Castelldefels, in addition to the Rostower building in Barcelona's Eixample district, which gives the company its name.

Messi's hotel chain contributed approximately 6,6 million USD in income to Rostower through its subsidiary Explotaciones Rosotel. Until last month, Messi operated these tourism properties under the MiM brand with the Majestic group. He then reached an agreement for Mallorca-based Melia to manage them, making these hotels part of The Melia Collection. This collection comprises six hotel properties located in Sitges, Sotogrande, Mallorca, Ibiza, Baqueira Beret, and Andorra. Additionally, the Argentine captain owns another hotel not included in this alliance, situated in Valle de Aran, Catalonia.

At Rostower, Messi serves as chairman, with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo as vice-chairman. Alfonso Nebot is also on the company's board of directors. Nebot leads Limecu Espana 2010, the parent company overseeing all of Messi's business ventures and Rostower's ultimate parent. Limecu Espana 2010 also encompasses Leo Messi Management, the company the superstar uses to manage his image rights.

Ha Phuong (according to Cinco Dias)