Messi has been left behind. The largest contract in sports history has been signed

Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani has signed a ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to the agreement, the player will earn $700 million during this period.

This deal has become the most expensive in the history of sports. No other professional athlete has ever signed such a lucrative and expensive contract.

Ohtani's earnings from this contract surpass Lionel Messi's deal with Barcelona (2017-2021). Over the last four seasons at Barça Messi earned around $674 million.

Ohtani plays as a pitcher and designated hitter. He has been awarded the American League MVP twice.

Initially, the Japanese player was the first pick by the Fighters in the 2012 draft. From 2013 to 2017, he played for a team in the Japanese professional league, winning the Japanese Championship Series in 2016. After the 2017 season, he was signed by the Los Angeles Angels, where he played before joining the Dodgers.

In 2023, Ohtani set several historical records. He became the first MLB player with 10 wins and 40 home runs in a season. Additionally, he was the first player in MLB history to win the Most Valuable Player award unanimously two years in a row.