The MLS Players Association released the annualized salaries for each player in the league for the first time in 2026, and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi remains the league's highest-paid player for the third year in a row.
The salaries, released Tuesday, are the first of two annual releases by the MLSPA and are current as of April 16, 2026. The average guaranteed compensation for the league's players is $688,816.
Messi's Record Contract
Messi signed a three-year contract extension with Inter Miami through the 2028 season last October, right before leading the club to its first MLS Cup title.
His base salary of $25 million, including guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million, this season marks a drastic increase from the $12 million base and guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million he earned last year, per the MLS Players Association salary guide from October.
Total Earnings
While the 38-year-old Argentinian superstar's salary makes him by far the U.S. top flight's highest-paid player, he actually takes home significantly more cash.
Inter Miami actually pay him $70 to $80 million annually, according to club owner Jorge Mas, making the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion the second-highest paid player in the world, behind Cristiano Ronaldo's estimated $230 million on-field salary with Al Nassr.
In addition to his salary, Messi earns money through an MLS-related deal with adidas and receives a cut of revenue sharing from Apple TV, among other business ventures, all of which brought his annual earnings to around $135 million in 2025.
Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026
Here's a look at the top 10 salaries in MLS as of April 16, 2026, which include players from nine different clubs:
| Rank | Player | Club | Guaranteed Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $28.3M |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | LAFC | $11.1M |
| 3 | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | $9.6M |
Guaranteed compensation includes a player's base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player's contract, including option years, per MLSPA.