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 current as of April 16, 2026. The average guaranteed compensation for the league's players is $688,816.
Messi's Record-Breaking 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, marks a drastic increase from the $12 million base and $20.4 million guaranteed he earned last year.
Beyond His MLS Salary
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 pays 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.
His annual earnings reached around $135 million in 2025, a number that has likely increased this season with the salary pay raise and 2026 FIFA World Cup endorsements.
Top 10 MLS Salaries
Way behind Messi, LAFC's Son Heung-min is the second highest-paid player in MLS with a base salary of $10.3 million and guaranteed compensation of $11.1 million.
Miami's Rodrigo De Paul sits in third with a base salary of $7.5 million and guaranteed compensation of $9.6 million.
Top 10 Player Salaries in MLS (as of April 16, 2026)
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.