Lionel Messi’s pay has more than quadrupled to $25 million (£18.5 million) in his new deal with Inter Miami, making him more than twice as much as the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung Min.
Messi’s new deal includes a basic salary of $25 million and more than $28 million in guaranteed pay, according to the MLS Players’ Association’s initial salary announcement for 2026. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s salary exceeds that of 28 of the other 29 MLS teams.
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Miami’s payroll has increased from $46.8 million (£34.6 million) at the beginning of last season to $54.6 million (£40.4 million), which is more than $20 million (£14.8 million) more than LAFC, which is second at $32.7 million (£24.2 million), and over five times as much as Philadelphia, which has a league-low $11.7 million (£8.65 million). Miami’s salary increased from $46.8 million (£34.6 million) at the start of last season, Reported by Independent News.
Total league remuneration was $631 million (£467 million), with an average guaranteed compensation of $688,816 on April 16, up nearly 9% from the beginning of October.
Messi signed a new three-year deal with Inter Miami through the 2028 season in October, before helping the club to its first MLS title.
The Argentina captain has scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season games for Miami, including nine in 11 this season. Last season, he led the MLS in scoring with 29 goals, earning his second MVP title in a row.
His MLS contract pay statistics include any marketing bonuses and agency fees, but do not take into account any further agreements with the team or its affiliates, or any performance bonuses.
Cincinnati centre-back Miles Robinson ($3.95 million; £2.92 million) was the highest-paid player on Mauricio Pochettino’s United States roster for the 2026 World Cup.
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