Lionel Messi Secures Record-Breaking Contract with Inter Miami

• Lionel Messi signed a new contract with Inter Miami worth $25M in base salary and $28.3M in guaranteed compensation.

• Messi earns more than the payrolls of 28 of the 29 MLS teams, with Miami’s $54.6M payroll topping the league.

• Son Heung-min is the second-highest earner at $10.3M in base salary and $11.1M in total compensation.

Lionel Messi substantially increased his earnings to $25 million with his new contract at Inter Miami, more than double the salary of the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, Son Heung-min from Los Angeles FC.

According to the MLS Players Association, Messi’s new contract comprises a base salary of $25 million and guaranteed compensation of $28,333,333, as revealed in their initial release of 2026 salaries. Notably, Messi’s earnings surpass the payrolls of 28 other MLS teams.

Inter Miami’s total payroll stands at $54.6 million, which is over $20 million above LAFC’s second-place figure of $32.7 million and nearly five times higher than Philadelphia’s league-low payroll of $11.7 million. Miami’s payroll has risen from $46.8 million at the beginning of last season.

Toronto has reduced its payroll to $21.4 million from $34.1 million at the start of 2025, while LAFC has increased its spending to $32.7 million from $22.4 million.

As of April 16, total league compensation reached $631 million, with the average guaranteed compensation of $688,816 reflecting an 8.9% increase from $632,809 as of October 1.

Messi previously signed an MLS contract in July 2023, which had a base salary of $12 million and an annualized guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. Last October, he committed to a three-year contract extending through the 2028 season and subsequently led the team to its first MLS title.

At nearly 39 years old, Messi serves as the captain of the defending World Cup champion Argentina and is expected to play in his sixth World Cup. He has scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season games with Miami, including nine in 11 matches this season. Last season, he topped the MLS with 29 regular-season goals and earned his second consecutive MVP award.

The salary figures disclosed pertain to Messi’s MLS contract and inclusive of any marketing bonus and agent’s fees, but do not include additional agreements with the team or any performance bonuses.

Son Heung-min stands as the second-highest earner, with a base salary of $10,368,750 and total compensation amounting to $11,152,852, figures that remain consistent with last season. The 33-year-old winger joined LAFC last August.

Following Son, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, who also signed with Miami last summer, ranks third at $7,569,000 in salary and $9,688,320 in total compensation. Other notable players include Atlanta winger Miguel Almirón ($6,056,000, $7,871,000), San Diego winger Hirving Lozano ($6 million, $9,333,333), New York Red Bulls winger Emil Forsberg ($5,405,000, $6,035,625), and Nashville forward Sam Surridge ($5.27 million, $5,933,000).

MLS players that are in contention for spots on the U.S. World Cup roster include Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson, who leads at $3.5 million in base salary and $3.95 million in total compensation, followed by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner ($1,776,136, $1,942,886) and Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan ($1,645,000, $1,766,000).

New players joining the league include Toronto forward Josh Sargent ($3.21 million, $5,265,667), San Jose forward Timo Werner ($3,738,872, $4,268,039), and others. The median salary in MLS rose by 4.1% to $352,104 from $338,347 in the previous fall. The number of players earning $1 million or more has increased to 133, up from 131 at the start of last season, and 91 at the start of 2022.