Messi Earns More Than 28 MLS Teams' Entire Rosters

Lionel Messi Earns More Than 28 Entire MLS Rosters

Lionel Messi continues to set himself apart in American soccer, although this time it is not because of his goals or assists, but rather his earnings.

The Inter Miami forward comfortably leads the list of the highest-paid players in MLS in 2026, with figures that exceed the total guaranteed compensation of nearly every club in the competition.

According to information published by MARCA, based on figures from the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), the Argentine receives an annual base salary of $25 million and guaranteed compensation of $28.33 million.

The latter figure includes certain bonuses, commercial incentives, and agent fees, but excludes additional income from sponsorships or independent agreements.

Only Inter Miami and LAFC Exceed Messi's Earnings

The scale of Messi's contract becomes even more remarkable when compared with the payrolls of the 30 teams competing in MLS.

Only Inter Miami, with approximately $54.6 million, and LAFC, with $32.6 million, have rosters whose total guaranteed compensation exceeds that of the Argentine.

For example, Atlanta United registers approximately $27.9 million, while Philadelphia Union reaches just $11.7 million.

This means that Messi, individually, earns more than twice the combined guaranteed compensation of every player on Philadelphia Union's roster.

Furthermore, the Argentine captain accounts for approximately half of Inter Miami's total guaranteed player compensation.

Son Heung-min and Rodrigo De Paul Trail the Argentine by a Wide Margin

The gap is also considerable when comparing the World Cup winner with other stars in the league.

Son Heung-min, who plays for LAFC, ranks second with $11.15 million annually, while Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's teammate at Inter Miami, sits third with $9.69 million.

Even when combining the guaranteed compensation of both players, their total remains below the Argentine's earnings.

According to data analyzed from 911 players, average guaranteed compensation stands at approximately $686,000 annually, while the median is around $350,000.

However, the officially reported $28.3 million does not represent Messi's total income, as his sponsorship deals and other commercial agreements could significantly increase that amount.

Key Takeaways

• Lionel Messi receives $28.33 million in guaranteed compensation in 2026.
• His contract exceeds the combined payrolls of 28 of the 30 MLS teams.
• Only Inter Miami and LAFC have rosters with higher total guaranteed compensation.
• Son Heung-min and Rodrigo De Paul rank second and third among the league's highest-paid players.
• Messi's additional commercial earnings are not included in the official figure.

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