Messi Tops MLS Earnings with £18.5m Salary, Leading League Scorers

Lionel Messi remains MLS's top earner with a £18.5m salary, doubling the next highest. He scored 59 goals in 64 games, leading Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup and earning MVP honors twice.

Messi Leads MLS in Earnings

Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS) with an annual base salary of $25 million (£18.5 million), more than twice that of the league's second-highest earner.

Data released externally by the MLS Players Association reflects the contract extension signed by Messi, who will turn 39 next month, with Inter Miami in October. The Argentina forward's base salary has doubled, with the overall contract valued at $28.3 million (£20.9 million) in guaranteed compensation.

LAFC's Son Heung-min ranks as the second-highest earner, earning a base salary of $10.4 million (£7.7 million) and $11.2 million (£8.3 million) in guaranteed compensation. The former Tottenham forward, aged 33, earns slightly more than Inter Miami's Rodrigo de Paul and San Diego FC's Hirving Lozano.

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The reported salaries exclude income from endorsement deals and Messi's option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami, which is co-owned by David Beckham.

Messi's Impact at Inter Miami

Messi joined the Florida-based franchise in 2023, scoring 59 goals in 64 regular-season MLS games. His contributions helped Inter Miami secure the MLS Cup in 2025.

He led the league with 29 goals last season and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second consecutive year.