Lionel Messi's new contract with Inter Miami has seen his base salary more than double to $25 million (£18.5 million), with over $28 million in guaranteed compensation, according to the MLS Players’ Association. This makes the Argentine superstar the highest earner in Major League Soccer by a significant margin.
Messi's Earnings Compared to Other MLS Players
Messi's compensation is more than double that of the league's second-highest-paid player, Son Heung Min of Los Angeles FC. Remarkably, Messi's individual salary surpasses the entire payrolls of 28 of the 29 other MLS teams, highlighting his unique value to Inter Miami.
Inter Miami's Team Payroll Soars
With Messi's contract, Inter Miami now has the highest team payroll in the MLS at $54.6 million (£40.4 million). This is over $20 million (£14.8 million) more than second-placed LAFC and nearly five times the league-low payroll of Philadelphia. The club's investment in Messi has clearly paid off in terms of on-field performance and global attention.
Overall league compensation has reached $631 million (£467 million), with the average guaranteed compensation for players rising by nearly nine per cent since October. Messi signed a new three-year deal in October, extending his contract through the 2028 season. He has maintained strong performance with 59 goals in 64 regular-season games for Miami, including nine this season.
