Lionel Messi has a firm rule when it comes to commercial shoots, and it comes with a hard deadline attached.
That's according to Hollywood star Will Ferrell, who picked up the details from fellow actor Steve Carell after The US Office star worked alongside the Argentine on a recent World Cup advert.
It's a real insight into how one of the world's most in-demand athletes manages his time on set, even as brands continue to queue up for his services. It also comes as Messi's commercial and on-pitch earnings continue to reach staggering figures, solidifying his status as MLS's top earner by some distance.
Lionel Messi Won't Stay on set Past 30 Minutes, According to Will Ferrell
Lionel MessiREUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
The Barcelona legend regularly appears in campaigns for major brands including Adidas, Pepsi, Michelob Ultra, Gatorade and EA Sports. He most recently featured in a star-studded lineup for the well-known crisp brand Lays, in their 'No Lay's No Game' advert alongside David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Alexia Putellas and Carell.
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But according to Ferrell, speaking on the Dan Patrick Show, Messi keeps a strict limit on how long he'll spend filming. Ferrell said:
"I talked to Steve Carell, who has met Messi. I was in the domestic campaign for Lay’s potato chips; Steve was in the foreign campaign. Apparently Messi was in, and Messi has a rule: when he hits the set, you got 30 minutes with Messi, and that’s it. So there was a frenzy of activity to hurry up and get all the shots with Messi; otherwise, he’s out. He’s vamos."
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Lionel MessiBrett Davis / IMAGN Images via Reuters
Messi is MLS's highest earner by some distance, with figures released in October showing a base salary of $12million and guaranteed compensation of $20.4million, before he signed a fresh three-year extension. He also holds an equity stake in Inter Miami alongside various bonuses and clauses.
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Inter owner Jorge Mas said in March that Messi earns between $70 million and $80 million a year in total from the club, while Forbes reported his off-pitch earnings sit at around $70 million annually. He also has a lifetime deal with Adidas, believed to be worth $25 million a year, having represented the brand since 2006.
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