Lionel Messi's Club World Cup disappointment may just have reduced as he is set for a substantial sum from former club Barcelona as per an agreement made five years ago.
Messi and Inter Miami were beaten 4-0 by his former club Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 on Sunday, with the Champions League winners taking on Bayern Munich in a mouthwatering quarter-final fixture.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner cut a frustrated figure in Atlanta and he and his team will now turn their attentions to the MLS, where they have four games in hand on many of their rivals.
The Herons, co-owned by David Beckham, collected $21.05 million courtesy of their performance in the revamped tournament.
But in a separate case, Messi has also been handed a tidy fee from Barcelona, where he is the club's record goalscorer.
Why is Lionel Messi being paid by Barcelona?
Messi ended his long association with the Blaugrana in 2021 when his contract expired and he signed for PSG.
However, a year prior, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Messi came to an agreement with Barcelona to defer the payment of his hefty contract.
It's claimed that the full amount was worth £41 million €47.6 million and Messi was still being paid by the Blaugrana while playing his football elsewhere.
Barcelona are finally clearing their debt owed to Lionel Messi. Image: Getty
Barcelona are finally clearing their debt owed to Lionel Messi. Image: Getty
But as reported by Culemania, via AS, the very last figure owed is being paid on the Monday 30 June (today) and is to the tune of €5.95 million.
Messi isn't the only Inter star to receive money from Barca, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba reportedly being paid €1.18 million and €943,000.
Which other stars are Barcelona paying on 30 June?
Given the difficult financial situation they found themselves, Barcelona struck similar agreements with a whole host of former players, including Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho.
Samuel Umtiti is receiving €1.2 million, with Griezmann and Coutinho getting €965,000 and €855,000 respectively.
Dembele and Miralem Pjanic will both be €644,000 richer, with former captain Sergi Roberto taking home €599,000.
Current stars Pedri and Ronald Araujo will get €757,000 and €429,000 respectively, with Ansu Fati and Inaki Pena also part of the €16 million debt-clearing payments.
Frenkie de Jong and captain Marc Andre Ter Stegen did not agree to wage deferrals but their arrangements included payments spread out across a contract.
The funds will help Barcelona pay the €62 million release clause in Nico Williams' Athletic Club contract and secure the Spain international's signature.