Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, according to the latest salary figures released by the MLS Players Association.
The Inter Miami CF star is earning about $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation for the 2026 season more than double the salary of the league’s next highest-paid player, Son Heung-min.
Reports also note that Messi’s MLS salary alone exceeds the total payrolls of many MLS clubs. His broader earnings package — including sponsorships, commercial partnerships, and future ownership-related incentives tied to Inter Miami — is estimated to reach $70–80 million annually.
Messi’s impact has gone beyond wages. Since arriving in MLS in 2023, he has dramatically increased Inter Miami’s valuation and commercial revenue, helping turn the club into the league’s most valuable franchise.
