Lionel Messi gets $20.4 mn at Inter Miami, more than 21 teams' entire payrolls in MLS

Football superstar Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami in US' Major League Soccer (MLS), is the highest-paid player in the league for the third straight year with total annual compensation of $20,446,667, which is greater than the entire payroll of the other 21 teams.

Messi's base compensation is $12 million, the Major League Soccer Players Association said on Wednesday.

His pay covers his MLS deal, which runs through the 2025 season, including any marketing bonus and agent’s fees. However, it do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.


The average guaranteed compensation of $649,120 was up 9.2% from $594,389 in May 2024.

Messi's team topped the league with a record $46.8 million payroll as of May 23, up from $41.7 million at the end of last season. Miami's payroll was double that of all teams other than Toronto ($34.1 million) and Atlanta ($27.6 million).

Cincinnati was fourth at $23.2 million, followed by the defending champion LA Galaxy ($22.9 million), Los Angeles FC ($22.4 million) and Chicago ($22.1 million). Expansion San Diego was 10th at $20 million.

The lowest payroll of the league's 30 teams belonged to Montreal30 teams at just under $12 million.

Toronto winger Lorenzo Insigne was second most paid athlete at $15.4 million in total compensation, followed by Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets ($8,774,996), Atlanta winger Miguel Almirón ($7,871,000), San Diego winger Hirving Lozano ($7,633,333),

A total of eleven players earn $5 million or more, up from nine at the start of last season, and 50 earned $2 million or higher, an increase from 44. There were 131 at $1 million or more, up from 115 at the start of last year.