Lionel Messi Earns $28m Yearly as MLS Highest-Paid Star at Inter Miami
Last update: May 13, 2026
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Lionel Messi has widened the financial gap in Major League Soccer after his Inter Miami contract extension pushed his annual earnings to a staggering $28.3 million.
Argentine football icon Lionel Messi remains Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player after his annual base salary doubled to $25 million at Inter Miami CF.
According to figures released by the MLS Players Association on Tuesday, Messi’s guaranteed compensation now stands at $28.3 million per year following the contract extension he signed with the Florida-based club in October. The new deal keeps the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner at Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season.
South Korean captain Son Heung-min, who joined Los Angeles FC last August, ranks second on the salary chart with a base salary of $10.36 million and guaranteed earnings of $11.2 million.
The salary figures released do not include endorsement deals or Messi’s option to acquire ownership shares in Inter Miami, the club co-owned by David Beckham.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has scored 59 goals in 64 MLS regular-season matches. The 38-year-old forward led the league with 29 goals last season and won the MLS Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive year. He is also expected to captain Argentina national football team in their FIFA World Cup title defence next month.
Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul is third on the MLS salary rankings with guaranteed compensation of $9.7 million.
Mexican winger Hirving Lozano sits fourth with earnings of $9.3 million despite not featuring for San Diego FC since November.
Miguel Almirón completes the top five with guaranteed compensation of $7.9 million at Atlanta United FC.
Inter Miami’s total payroll has now risen to $54.6 million — more than $20 million above LAFC’s $32.7 million payroll and nearly five times higher than league-low Philadelphia Union at $11.7 million.
MLS also reported total league compensation at $631 million, while the average guaranteed salary increased by 8.9 percent to $688,816 compared to figures released last October.
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