Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer by a wide margin, but after re-signing with Inter Miami in October, his salary has grown substantially.
According to data released by the MLS Players Association on Tuesday, the Argentine superstar will receive guaranteed compensation of $28.333 million this season — a 39 percent increase over his 2025 package of $20.446 million.
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Messi’s base salary grew to $25 million from $12 million. Guaranteed compensation includes base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player’s contract, including option years. His new deal runs through the 2028-29 season.
Taking into account his ownership stake in Inter Miami, Messi collects $70 million to $80 million per year, club owner Jorge Mas told Bloomberg in March.
Still among the world’s elite players — and still the sport’s most famous — the 38-year-old forward last year became the first MLS player to win back-to-back MVP awards. He also guided Miami to its first MLS Cup trophy with six goals and nine assists in six playoff matches.
Since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain late in the 2023 season, Messi has recorded 59 goals and 41 assists in 64 regular season appearances. This year he has nine goals and four assists in 11 matches.
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He is expected to lead reigning champion Argentina at this summer’s World Cup across North America.
Two other Miami players cracked the top 25: Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul at No. 3 with $9.688 million and Mexican forward Germán Berterame at No. 21 with $3.834 million.
Second on the compensation list is Korean forward Son Heung-min, who made an immediate impact for Los Angeles FC last summer after departing Tottenham Hotspur. Son has a base salary of $10.368 million and total earnings of $11.152 million.
Forward Josh Sargent, who signed with Toronto FC this spring after eight years in Europe, is the highest-paid American at No. 11 with $5.265 million. The only other Americans in the top 25 are FC Cincinnati center back Miles Robinson (No. 20 with $3.950 million) and Austin FC forward Brandon Vazquez (No. 24 with $3.701 million).
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Of the 917 players under contract this spring, 36 (or 3.9 percent) are guaranteed to earn at least $3 million and 133 (14.5 percent) will earn at least $1 million. That last figure has grown substantially over the years.
The collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLSPA cites a minimum base salary of $88,025 for reserve players and $113,400 for senior players. The league-wide average base salary last year was about $350,000.
The Vancouver Whitecaps, who lost to Miami in the 2025 final, have the most players (eight) making at least $1 million in guaranteed compensation this year, followed by Toronto with seven and six other clubs with six. FC Dallas and the Philadelphia Union have the fewest (one), followed by D.C. United, Orlando City, Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes with two apiece.
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Top MLS salaries
(in millions)
1. Lionel Messi, Miami $28.333
2. Son Heung-min, LAFC $11.152
3. Rodrigo De Paul, Miami $9.688
4. Hirving Lozano, San Diego $9.333
5. Miguel Almiron, Atlanta $7.871
6. Emil Forsberg, Red Bull NY $6.035
7. Sam Surridge, Nashville $5.933
8. Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy $5.792
9. Jonathan Bamba, Chicago $5.581
10. Hany Mukhtar, Nashville $5.411
11. Josh Sargent, Toronto $5.265
12. Thomas Müller, Vancouver $5.125
13. Aleksei Miranchuk, Atlanta $5.085
14. Carles Gil, New England $4.952
15. Denis Bouanga, LAFC $4.939
16. Evander, Cincinnati $4.736
17. Joseph Paintsil, LA Galaxy $4.502
18. Facundo Torres, Austin $4.405
19. Timo Werner, San Jose $4.268
20. Miles Robinson, Cincinnati $3.950
21. Germán Berterame, Miami $3.834
22. Kevin Denkey, Cincinnati $3.810
23. Emmanuel Latte Lath, Atlanta $3.736
24. Brandon Vazquez, Austin $3.701
25. Ryan Gauld, Vancouver $3.675
