Messi highest-paid in MLS as Miami sets record

Inter Miami guardant Lionel Messi is Major League Soccer's highest-paid subordinate for the 2nd twelvemonth running, with a full guaranteed compensation of $20.45 million, according to information released by the MLS Players Association.

As successful erstwhile years, the magnitude reflects conscionable the playing information of Messi's compensation, with the Argentina prima besides acceptable to payment from different gross streams specified arsenic his endorsement woody with Adidas and a revenue-sharing statement with league broadcast spouse Apple.

According to Sportico, Messi stands to gain up to $150m implicit the beingness of the two-and-a-half twelvemonth declaration helium signed with Miami and MLS backmost successful the summertime of 2023.

Toronto FC guardant Lorenzo Insigne ranked 2nd with a guaranteed compensation of $15.44m, followed by Messi's Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets astatine $8.5m. Atlanta United guardant Miguel Almirón is successful 4th presumption astatine $7.87m followed by San Diego FC guardant Hirving "Chucky" Lozano astatine $7.63m.

The wage numbers from the MLSPA are arsenic of May 25, 2025. The national typically does 2 wage releases per year. Two years ago, conscionable months earlier Messi's arrival, Insigne was the league's highest-paid player.

Miami continued to operation implicit the remainder of the league successful presumption of full guaranteed compensation per team.

The Herons checked successful astatine $46.84m which is $5m much than the league grounds they acceptable astatine this clip a twelvemonth ago. The magnitude is besides much than treble that of each but 2 different teams. Toronto's outlay is $34.15m followed by Atlanta United FC astatine $27.63m, FC Cincinnati astatine $23.18m, and the reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy astatine $22.87m.

CF Montréal are the league's lowest spenders astatine $11.99m, followed by the Philadelphia Union ($13.37m), Real Salt Lake ($13.413m), the Houston Dynamo ($13.414m) and Minnesota United ($13.80m)

The mean guaranteed compensation for the full subordinate excavation is $649,199, up 9.22% from the spring, 2024 people of $594,390. The median wage kept gait however, rising 10.1% from $308,750 this clip a twelvemonth agone to $339,876 now. All told, 131 players person a guaranteed compensation of astatine slightest $1m, compared to 115 a twelvemonth ago.

MLS and the MLSPA are successful the 5th twelvemonth of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was agreed upon successful February of 2021. The existent CBA runs done the extremity of the 2027 season.

Here is the full guaranteed compensation per team.

1. Inter Miami - $46.84m
2. Toronto FC - $34.15m
3. Atlanta United - $27.63m
4. FC Cincinnati - $23.18m
5. LA Galaxy - $22.87m
6. LAFC - $22.37m
7. Chicago Fire - $22.05m
8. Nashville SC - $21.75m
9. New York Red Bulls - $21.54m
10. San Diego FC - $20.03m
11. Portland Timbers - $19.57m
12. FC Dallas - $18.98m
13. St. Louis City - $18.11m
14. Seattle Sounders - $18.09m
15. Sporting Kansas City - $17.72m
16. New England Revolution - $17.19m
17. San Jose Earthquakes - $17.19m
18. Charlotte FC - $17.13m
19. Orlando City - $16.44m
20. Columbus Crew - $16.36m
21. Vancouver Whitecaps - $15.71m
22. Colorado Rapids - $15.48m
23. Austin FC - $15.33m
24. New York City FC - $14.96m
25. D.C. United - $14.62m
26. Minnesota United - $13.8m
27. Houston Dynamo - $13.41m
28. Real Salt Lake - $13.41m
29. Philadelphia Union - $13.37m
30. CF Montreal - $11.99m