The Gulfstream V jet costs $16.5 million, but Messi opted for a long-term lease instead of purchasing it outright for personal use. It has a length of nearly 30 meters, a passenger cabin of about 14 meters, and is designed to accommodate up to 16 people. The aircraft comprises 3 compartments, described as a “mobile hotel.”
In addition to basic amenities like a resting area and bathroom, it also features a modern kitchen and an auxiliary bathroom. Messi didn’t forget to add unique personal touches. The steps leading onto the plane bear the names of his entire family: Leo, Antonella, Thiago, Ciro, Mateo. The tail of the aircraft displays his jersey numbers from both his club and national team.
The entire interior of the Gulfstream V is wrapped in expensive wood and leather. The jet has 16 seats, which can be transformed into comfortable beds to ensure maximum rest space for Messi and his family during long flights.
This might be the time when he uses the Gulfstream V the most as he recently took his family on vacation to Ibiza (Spain) and flew back and forth to manage his future plans.
His “mobile castle” can fly continuously for more than 14 hours at an average speed of nearly 900 km/h, with a range of over 10,100 km. Hence, it’s sufficient for him to fly non-stop from Europe to his homeland, Argentina. Messi has also used his private jet to pick up his national team teammates from Argentina and bring them back to Europe for matches. He even generously allowed the Argentine president to charter it at a friendly price.