David Beckham and Lionel Messi, teammates at Inter Miami, will find themselves on opposing sides when England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. The match at Atlanta Stadium has seen ticket resale prices soar beyond £2,000, but for Beckham, affording a seat is no issue.
Beckham's Billionaire Status
Sir David Beckham, knighted in November 2025, became Britain's first billionaire sportsperson earlier this year. According to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List, Beckham and his wife Victoria have a combined net worth of £1.185bn. The 51-year-old former England captain built his fortune through an 11-year stint at Manchester United, where he earned a peak wage of roughly £5 million a year, followed by spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013. His commercial appeal has only grown since retirement, with sponsorship deals from Adidas, Pepsi, and Hugo Boss. He also part-owns Inter Miami, valued at $1.45bn (£1.07bn).
Messi's Fortune
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, has an estimated fortune of £833m, per Forbes. The Argentina captain earns an annual salary of £18.5m at Inter Miami, more than double the next highest-paid MLS player. Off the pitch, he generates revenue through partnerships with Adidas, Mastercard, and Pepsi, and holds an option to acquire an ownership stake in Inter Miami after retirement. Despite his wealth, Messi trails perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who is reportedly worth over £900m.
World Cup Semi-Final Showdown
Beckham, who won 115 caps for England and captained the side for six years, remains a passionate supporter. He attended England's quarter-final victory over Norway and hopes to see Thomas Tuchel's team avenge the 1998 World Cup defeat to Argentina, when Beckham was sent off in Saint-Etienne. The match will be the first time Messi faces England in his professional career. Demand for tickets has been immense, with resale prices exceeding £2,000.
