Rs. 89 Crore Earnings, Rs. 11 Crore Tax: Netizens Question Messi’s India Tour Deal

Football icon Lionel Messi was reportedly paid Rs. 89 crore for his GOAT India Tour 2025, with an additional Rs. 11 crore remitted to the government as tax.

Many users on the social media platform “X” (Previously known as Twitter) have expressed frustration on this matter. One user pointed out that salaried individuals in India often pay close to 35% in income tax, while a global sports icon such as Lionel Messi reportedly earned around Rs. 89 crore but paid only about Rs. 11 crore in taxes, questioning whether such a difference is fair.

In response, another user argued that the comparison is misleading, noting that Messi is not a salaried employee. As a professional athlete and global brand, he earns business and endorsement income, allowing him to claim legitimate expenses and deductions under applicable tax laws.

However, this explanation failed to convince many others. One user added that “A salaried Indian pays 35% for survival, while a billionaire celebrity pays peanuts via loopholes. One is taxed by force, the other by negotiation. This isn’t taxation; it’s legalised inequality.”

Another user added “the rich play by different maths. Until that changes, the rest of us just crunch numbers… and envy.”