The MLS Players Association released the annualized salaries of every player in Major League Soccer on Tuesday, the first of two reports they do every season. As expected, Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi was the league's highest-paid player by a long shot, topping the charts for the third consecutive season since arriving in south Florida in 2023.
What may have been a surprise was the giant pay raise Messi received, totaling $25 million base salary with $28.3 million guaranteed compensation. Despite being in the twilight of his career, the 38-year-old led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup last winter, setting a historic postseason record for goal contributions with 15 total, six goals and nine assists. He also became the first player to win back-to-back MLS MVP awards.
Inter Miami's Financial Dominance
Inter Miami doesn't just pay big for Messi. They also pay a pretty penny for fellow Argentinian superstar Rodrigo De Paul, although his wage feels like petty cash compared to what Messi gets. De Paul earns a $7.5 million base salary with $9.6 million guaranteed compensation this season, the third most of anyone in the league.
With two of the league's top three earners, the Herons were bound to be the club with the most expensive payroll, paying a whopping $54.6 million in guaranteed compensation, nearly half of which goes to one of the greatest players of all time.
LAFC Trails Behind
LAFC comes in at second, yet they are over $20 million in spending behind Inter Miami. The Western Conference side spends one-third of its grand bill of $32.7 million in guaranteed compensation on South Korean star forward Son Heung-min, who has the second-largest salary in MLS, sandwiched between Messi and De Paul with a $10.3 million base salary and $11.1 million in guaranteed compensation.
Worth the Investment
Inter Miami and LAFC are by far the two biggest spenders, but it seems to be worth the investment. The Herons have had great success since Messi's arrival, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters' Shield ahead of the league title last season. LAFC has dominated the Western Conference in past years, with deep postseason runs and even winning the MLS Cup in 2022.
Bottom of the Payroll Rankings
Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union both have the least expensive payrolls this season at $12.4 million and $11.7 million in guaranteed compensation respectively, perhaps one of several reasons both currently sit at the bottoms of their conferences.