One of soccer’s legends, Lionel Messi, has managed to rake in hundreds of millions and has even accumulated a net worth of $600 million. His talent is duly rewarded by his club and sponsors as the Argentine star earns millions of dollars every year. However, little is known about how Messi has spent a huge chunk of his net worth due to his amaxophobia.
Amaxophobia is defined as the fear of driving or being a passenger in a car or other vehicle. While it is a lesser-known phobia, one of the most recognizable faces in the soccer world suffers from it. According to reports from El Futbolero, Lionel Messi’s huge car collection is a lot related to his amaxophobia. The PSG star has himself admitted that he dislikes supercars and instead prefers comfort over speed.
While his phobia does make driving or riding a car uneasy for him, Messi’s job does require him to travel a lot. Thus, Lionel Messi spends a huge deal of money on luxury cars that provide him with comfort and safety. The former Barcelona star has a mouthwatering car collection whose worth exceeds $50 million. The former Barcelona captain has previously admitted that he also hates riding motorcycles.
Lionel Messi’s father and brother were once involved in terrible car crashes
Lionel Messi’s amaxophobia has been further aggravated by his father and brother suffering from car accidents. According to The Sun, Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, once knocked a biker unconscious while driving in Barcelona back in 2019. While the identity of the 24-year-old biker is not known, he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance for treatment.
Meanwhile, Jorge’s car was taken to the police station for the verification of the car’s documents. In addition to this, he was also reportedly required to breathalyze before he was permitted to leave the police station. The reports also stated that Messi’s father was driving a BMW M3 while the injured biker was riding a Honda CG 150.
Messi’s elder brother, Matias Messi, was also once involved in a car accident back in 2017. Matias, who was driving a black Audi hit a heavy goods vehicle in Messi’s hometown, Rosario. The cause of the accident was reported due to existing bad weather conditions that had made the road slippery. While Matias’ Audi had suffered heavy damage, both drivers involved in the accident escaped any serious injuries.