Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer after signing a major contract extension with Inter Miami CF.
According to salary figures released by the MLS Players Association and cited by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, Messi now earns an annual base salary of $25 million (£18.5 million), more than twice the salary of any other player in the league.
The Argentina captain’s total guaranteed compensation is reportedly valued at $28.3 million (£20.9 million).
The 38-year-old extended his stay with Inter Miami in October, continuing a remarkable MLS journey that began when he joined the Florida-based club in 2023.
Former Tottenham Hotspur FC forward Son Heung-min is listed as the second-highest earner in MLS with a base salary of $11.2 million (£8.3 million).
Rodrigo De Paul and Hirving Lozano also rank among the league’s top-paid players.
The released figures do not include Messi’s endorsement earnings or his reported option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami, the club co-owned by David Beckham.
Since arriving in the United States, Messi has significantly boosted the global popularity of MLS both on and off the pitch.
He has scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season appearances and helped Inter Miami win the MLS Cup in 2025.
Messi also finished as the league’s top scorer last season with 29 goals, further underlining his dominance in American soccer through both his performances and commercial influence.
