Lionel Messi will become the world’s

next billionaire athlete just by turning up at Barcelona’s training camp next

month.

However, after 16 years with the

club, Messi reportedly asked to not return to the club following its 8-2 loss

to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. It was the first season

in more than a decade that the Argentine star was ending without a trophy. Messi’s

contract with the club does not expire until 2021.

However, should he return, he would

close the 2020-21 season with more than US$1 billion in earnings, something

only four other athletes have achieved.

Golfer Tiger Woods was the first

athlete to cross the billion-dollar mark back in 2009. Boxer Floyd Mayweather

joined the exclusive club in 2017 after led a series of pay-per-view fights

that earned more than US$25 million.

Messi’s perennial rival Cristiano

Ronaldo was the third athlete to achieve the feat, doing so this year in a

season which saw him earn US$105 million.

However, legendary basketball player

Michael Jordan is the only athlete to retain billionaire status after 15 years

of professional play and investments in the Charlotte Hornets as well as his

popular partnership with Nike.