US Edition
Miami's Lionel Messi at $20.4 Million Earns More than 21 Other MLS Teams' Payrolls This Year
- The MLS Players Association released the first 2025 season salary report on June 25, showing Lionel Messi earns $20,446,667 with Inter Miami.
- Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami in summer 2023, making him MLS's highest-paid player for the third consecutive year.
- Inter Miami's total payroll is $46.84 million, nearly double most teams and nearly half allocated to Messi, while Toronto FC ranks second with $34.1 million despite poor standings.
- The average guaranteed compensation rose 9.22% to $649,199, with 131 players earning $1 million or more. Lionel Messi’s compensation alone exceeds the combined salary budgets of 21 MLS teams.
- These figures highlight the growing payroll disparities in MLS reflected in salary concentration on stars like Messi, suggesting ongoing competitive and financial imbalances.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Associated Press News
Miami's Lionel Messi at $20.4 million earns more than 21 other MLS teams' payrolls this year
Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer for the third straight year with total annual compensation of $20.4 million, greater than the entire payroll of 21 teams.
Colorado Rapids 2025 salaries released by MLSPA
The Major League Soccer Players’ Association released the first salary report of the 2025 season on Wednesday, which includes the salary of every MLS player. The Colorado Rapids, who have made their fair share of splash signings over the past two seasons, are ninth lowest in the league in payroll for their first-team players. Winger Kévin Cabral, who has not logged a goal contribution yet this season despite playing in all but one match this sea…
The Chronicle-Journal
Miami's Messi still the highest-earner in Major League Soccer at US$20.5 million
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi remains Major League Soccer's highest-paid player this season at $20,446,667 (all figures in U.S. dollars), according to figures released Wednesday by the MLS Players Association.
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