Lionel Messi has retained his place as Major League Soccer’s top earner after agreeing to a new big-money contract with Inter Miami CF. Data published by the MLS Players Association yesterday showed that the Argentina national football team captain now receives an annual base salary of $25 million (£18.5 million), which is more than twice the earnings of any other player in the league.
His overall guaranteed earnings are estimated at $28.3 million (£20.9 million).
The 38-year-old extended his stay with Inter Miami in October, reinforcing his position as MLS’ biggest attraction since joining the American club in 2023.
A Former Tottenham Hotspur FC forward Son Heung-min is listed as the league’s second-highest earner with a base salary of 11.2m (£8.3m)
Next in the queue are Rodrigo De Paul and Hirving Lozano who follow him among the top earners in MLS.
The salary figures released do not include income from endorsements or Messi’s option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami, the club co-owned by David Beckham.
Since arriving at the Florida outfit, Messi has significantly elevated Major League Soccer’s international visibility.
The Argentine star has netted 59 goals in 64 league appearances and played a key role in Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS Cup triumph.
He also ended last season as the league’s leading scorer with 29 goals and continues to make a huge impact both on the pitch and commercially.
