Messi's salary tops almost every MLS club's wage bill

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OneFootball

·13 May 2026

Messi's salary tops almost every MLS club's wage bill

Major League Soccer (MLS) released its official player salary table this Tuesday (12), confirming what many already suspected: Lionel Messi is in a financial tier of his own in North American soccer.

Wearing the colors of Inter Miami, the Argentine star earns US$ 28.3 million per year (about R$ 139 million at the current exchange rate).

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The economic gap between Messi and the rest of the league becomes clear in two striking comparisons:

Compared to the franchises: The No. 10’s individual salary is higher than the entire payroll of almost every MLS team. The only exception is Los Angeles FC, which spends about US$ 33 million per year on its full squad combined.
Compared to his rivals: The second-highest-paid player in the tournament is South Korean Son Heung-min, the recent marquee signing of Los Angeles FC itself. He earns US$ 11.1 million per year — a figure nearly three times lower than what the Argentine is guaranteed.

Actual earnings go far beyond base salary

The list released by MLS includes only the amounts officially set in employment contracts.

Commercial deals, image rights, advertising, and a share of sales of official merchandise are not included in that total.

If those extra revenues are added, the picture changes.

According to information previously revealed by one of Inter Miami’s owners, Messi’s total earnings in the United States reach an impressive US$ 70 million to US$ 80 million per season.

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