Lionel Messi Becomes The Highest Paid Player At MLS For Two Years In A Row

Lionel Messi still leads the highest-paid player at MLS (Instagram/@intermimatif).

JAKARTA - Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi has become the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the second year in a row.

According to data released by the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), the total guaranteed compensation received by the Argentine was 20.45 million US dollars.

As in previous years, this number only reflects the portion of Messi's compensation.

The Argentine will also benefit from other revenue streams, such as his endorsement agreement with Adidas and revenue sharing agreements with broadcast partners of the Apple league.

According to Sportico, Messi will earn up to 150 million US dollars during the two and a half-year contract he signed with Inter Miami and MLS in the summer of 2023.

Toronto FC striker Lorenzo Insigne is in second place with guaranteed compensation of USD 15.44 million.

Messi's teammate at Inter Miami, Sergio Busquets, is third with $8.5 million.

Atlanta United forward Miguel Almiron is in fourth place with 7.87 million US dollars followed by San Diego FC forward Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, with 7.63 million US dollars.

The salary figure from MLSPA is as of May 25, 2025. Unions usually spend twice their salary per year. Two years ago, just a few months before Messi's arrival, Insigne was the player with the highest salary at MLS.

Inter Miami continues to tower above other clubs in terms of total guaranteed compensation per team.

The Herons earned 46.84 million US dollars, of which 5 million US dollars is more than the league record they made at the same time last year.

This amount is also more than double that of all clubs, except for two other teams at MLS. Toronto spending was USD 34.15 million followed by Atlanta United FC USD 27.63 million, FC Cincinnati USD 23.18 million, and defending champion of the MLS Cup, LA Galaxy, USD 22.87 million.

CF Montreal is the club with the lowest spending in the league at 11.99 million US dollars, followed by Philadelphia Union (USD 13.37 million), Real Salt Lake (USD 13.413 million), Houston Dynamo (USD 13.414 million), and Minnesota United (USD 13.80 million).

The average guaranteed compensation for all players is USD 649,199, up 9.22 percent from the semi-season 2024 figure of USD 594,390.

However, the average salary remained high, up 10.1 percent from 308,750 US dollars last year to 339,876 US dollars now.

Overall, 131 players have guaranteed compensation of at least $1 million, compared to 115 players last year.

MLS and MLSPA are in the fifth year of the Collective Offering Agreement (CBA) agreed in February 2021. CBA is currently in effect until the end of the 2027 season.

Total Compensation Guaranteed Per Team