Comparing The Assets, Contracts, And Incomes of Baseball Superstar Shohei Ohtani with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Shohei Ohtani has just become the biggest highlight in the world of sports. He has agreed to sign a 10-year contract worth up to $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, competing in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Although not yet the highest-paid athlete annually, Shohei Ohtani’s deal stands as the largest contract the sports world has ever witnessed. Previously, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr with a 2.5-year contract worth $536 million. As for Lionel Messi, he signed a 2.5-year contract worth $150 million with Inter Miami.
Shohei Ohtani has become the athlete with the largest contract. However, when comparing the assets owned by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, there is still a significant gap for the Japanese baseball star.
Shohei Ohtani, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi, who is the richest?
Specifically, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Shohei Ohtani currently has assets worth $50 million. This figure seems modest compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns assets worth $500 million. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has assets amounting to $600 million.
However, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in the twilight years of their peak playing careers. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani is only 29 years old. With the $700 million contract he just signed, Shohei Ohtani’s assets will increase significantly in the coming years.
Data as of 2023
| Sportsperson | Contract value (USD) | Contract duration (years) | Asset value (USD) |
| Shohei Ohtani | 700 Millions | 10 | 50 Millions |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 536 Millions | 2,5 | 500 Millions |
| Lionel Messi | 150 Millions | 2,5 | 600 Millions |
Comparing off-field incomes of Shohei Ohtani, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi
According to Forbes, Ronaldo currently earns $90 million from promotional and commercial activities off the field. Messi also earns $65 million from similar activities. In contrast, Shohei Ohtani’s figure is only $35 million.
With MLB always among the top two most-watched leagues in the United States, the commercial value that Shohei Ohtani could earn in the future will increase significantly. Not to mention, he also has a large fan base in Japan, a country where baseball is one of the premier sports.
