Messi Tops MLS Salary List with Over $28 Million
The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) revealed on Tuesday that Argentine star Lionel Messi's base salary with Inter Miami has doubled to $25 million, with his total guaranteed compensation reaching $28,333,333. These figures solidify Messi's position as the highest-paid player in MLS by a significant margin, according to the first salary disclosure for the 2026 season.
The released data highlights a substantial financial advantage for the Argentine star, who now earns more than double that of South Korean player Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, who ranked second with total compensation of $11,152,852. This increase follows Messi's signing of a new three-year contract last October, extending until the end of the 2028 season, which further strengthens the club's financial power in the transfer market.
The new salary represents a significant jump compared to Messi's initial contract signed in July 2023, which included a base salary of $12 million and guaranteed compensation of approximately $20.4 million. These figures are reflected in Inter Miami's total wage bill, which reached $54.6 million, exceeding Los Angeles FC's budget by over $20 million and registering a figure five times that spent by Philadelphia Union.
Within the overall league budget, total compensation in Major League Soccer reached $631 million, while the average guaranteed compensation for players stood at $688,816 as of mid-April statistics. This financial disparity highlights the extraordinary investment Inter Miami is dedicating to retain its star player, as the league continues to disclose club budgets and player salary details.
