Episode #
Lionel Messi Declines $1.9B To Play The Long Game #2489
June 21, 2023

In episode #2489, Neil and Eric unpack why Lionel Messi declined $1.9B to play the long game. When choosing which football club to play for, there’s often more going into the decision than money alone. Tune in to learn about the deals that Messi was offered, the numbers behind them, and how he is making a decision that will benefit his future self.
TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:00] Today’s topic: Lionel Messi Declines $1.9B To Play The Long Game.

[00:28] An overview of the options that Lionel Messi had of teams to play for.

[01:18] The deal that David Beckham offered Lionel Messi.

[02:18] How Beckham played the long game, and how Messi is doing the same.

[03:27] Why there are factors other than money influencing Messi’s decisions?

[05:03] The Messi brand and why it matters.

[06:43] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Go to https://www.marketingschool.io to learn more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

FC Barcelona

Saudi Arabian Football Federation

David Beckham

Inter Miami CF

Google Bard

Leave Some Feedback:

What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

Connect with Us: 

Single Grain << Eric’s ad agency

NP Digital << Neil’s ad agency

Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

Discover Latest Episodes

Episode
Why Intelligence Pales In Comparison To This
January 08, 2026

Neil and Eric break down why high agency is becoming more valuable than raw intelligence in the age of AI. They discuss Andre Karpathy’s views, Klarna’s AI experiment, why speed and execution now ...

Episode
How you should price yourself as an operator-creator
January 07, 2026

In this episode, hosts Neil and Eric break down how operator creators should price influencer deals, why most founders undercharge, and when sponsorships hurt long term business growth. They share rea...

Episode
CEO Says Running Company Is a Sh*t Sandwich Everyday
January 06, 2026

In this episode, Neil and Eric break down why running a company feels like a sandwich every day, from CEO pressure and people problems to impostor syndrome and nonstop decision making. They compare fo...