SouthernWorldwide.com – Lionel Messi has significantly increased his earnings in Major League Soccer (MLS), more than doubling his base salary to $25 million with Inter Miami. This new contract places him in a position where he earns more than twice the salary of any other player in the league.
The MLS Players Association released its initial figures for 2026 salaries on Tuesday. Messi’s contract includes a base salary of $25 million, with his guaranteed compensation reaching $28,333,333.
Inter Miami’s total payroll stands at $54.6 million, which is over $20 million more than the second-highest payroll in the league, LAFC’s $32.7 million. Philadelphia Union has the lowest payroll at $11.7 million. Miami’s payroll has seen an increase from $46.8 million at the beginning of the previous season.
In other team payroll adjustments, Toronto FC reduced its payroll to $21.4 million from $34.1 million at the start of 2025. Conversely, LAFC increased its spending from $22.4 million to $32.7 million.
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The total compensation across the league reached $631 million. As of April 16, the average guaranteed compensation was $688,816, representing an 8.9% increase from $632,809 recorded on October 1 of the previous year.
Messi’s initial MLS contract, signed in July 2023, featured a base salary of $12 million and an annualized guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. He subsequently agreed to a three-year extension in October, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season, a period during which he led Miami to their first MLS title.
At 38 years old, Messi is the captain of the reigning World Cup champion Argentina and is anticipated to participate in his sixth World Cup. He has scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season appearances for Miami, with nine goals in 11 matches this current season. Last season, he led MLS in regular-season goals with 29 and secured his second consecutive MVP award.
It is important to note that these salary figures pertain specifically to his MLS contract. They encompass marketing bonuses and agent fees but do not account for any separate agreements with the team or its affiliated entities, nor do they include potential performance-based bonuses.
The second-highest earner in MLS is Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, with a base salary of $10,368,750 and total compensation of $11,152,852, figures that remain unchanged from the previous season. The 33-year-old winger joined LAFC in August of last year.
Following Messi and Son, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, who joined Miami last summer, is third with a salary of $7,569,000 and total compensation of $9,688,320. Other high earners include:
- Atlanta winger Miguel Almiron ($6,056,000 base, $7,871,000 total)
- San Diego winger Hirving Lozano ($6 million base, $9,333,333 total)
- New York Red Bulls winger Emil Forsberg ($5,405,000 base, $6,035,625 total)
- Nashville forward Sam Surridge ($5.27 million base, $5,933,000 total)
- LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig ($5,125,000 base, $5,792,188 total)
- Vancouver attacker Thomas Müller ($5,000,004 base, $5,152,504 total)
- Chicago winger Jonathan Bamba ($5 million base, $5,581,806 total)
Among players considered for the U.S. World Cup roster, Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson leads with a base salary of $3.5 million and total compensation of $3.95 million. Other notable players include:
- New England goalkeeper Matt Turner ($1,776,136 base, $1,942,886 total)
- Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan ($1,645,000 base, $1,766,000 total)
- Charlotte midfielder Tim Ream ($1 million base, $1,127,750 total)
- Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte ($900,000 base, $1,032,083 total)
- Columbus left back/winger Max Arfsten ($800,000 base, $895,000 total)
- New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese ($675,000 base, $795,833 total)
- Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano ($525,000 base, $574,000 total)
- Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna ($450,000 base, $500,833 total)
- Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter ($480,000 base)
- Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady ($250,000 base, $348,333 total)
New additions to the league with notable salaries include:
- Toronto forward Josh Sargent ($3.21 million base, $5,265,667 total)
- San Jose forward Timo Werner ($3,738,872 base, $4,268,039 total)
- Salt Lake winger Morgan Guilavogui ($2.2 million base, $2,225,500 total)
- Houston forward Guilherme ($1,528,572 base, $1,925,230 total)
- LAFC midfielder Stephen Eustáquio ($1.8 million base)
- D.C. forward Louis Munteanu ($1.19 million base, $1,634,100 total)
- Minnesota midfielder James Rodríguez ($684,000 base)
Reporting by The Associated Press.
