Miami: Lionel Messi has once again emerged as the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer after new salary figures confirmed the scale of his latest contract with Inter Miami CF.
According to updated data released by the MLS Players Association, Messi earns an annual base salary of $25m (£18.5m), making him comfortably the league’s top earner. His guaranteed compensation package is estimated at around $28.3m (£20.9m) following the contract extension he signed with Inter Miami in October.
The figures underline Messi’s continued influence both on and off the field since joining the Florida-based club in 2023. His arrival significantly boosted the global popularity of MLS and attracted international attention to the league.
Messi’s earnings are more than double those of the second-highest-paid player in MLS, Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, who reportedly earns a base salary of $10.4m (£7.7m).
Other high-profile names among the league’s top earners include Rodrigo de Paul and Hirving Lozano, reflecting MLS’s growing ability to attract internationally recognised players.
The published salary figures do not include Messi’s commercial income through sponsorships, endorsements or his reported option to acquire an ownership stake in Inter Miami, which is co-owned by David Beckham.
Since arriving in the United States, Messi has delivered impressive performances for Inter Miami, scoring 59 goals in 64 regular-season appearances. He also played a key role in helping the club win the MLS Cup in 2025.
The Argentine star finished as the league’s top scorer last season with 29 goals and has won the MLS Most Valuable Player award in each of the last two full seasons. Messi’s continued dominance in MLS highlights the league’s growing global ambitions and its increasing ability to compete financially for elite football talent.
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