Inter Miami’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is set to become the highest-paid footballer in the American Major League Soccer (MLS) for the third consecutive year. His salary is even higher than the total salary of the players in 21 teams. Messi’s annual income in Miami is $24.46 million, which is about 248.4 million taka in Bangladeshi currency. This information was reported by the news agency AP in a report.
Yesterday (Wednesday), the MLS Players Association released updated salary estimates for various teams and players in the league. Messi’s base salary of $12 million per year, plus various marketing and agent fees, other contractual calculations and performance bonuses, add up to a huge figure. This was mentioned in the MLS contract of the Argentine World Cup-winning captain.
A team with a high salary like Messi will naturally be at the top of the league in terms of spending. According to the calculations as of May 23, Messi’s Miami spent a record-breaking $46.8 million in MLS in the league. That’s 568 crore 46 lakh taka in Bangladeshi currency. Almost half of the entire money goes to Messi’s pocket. David Beckham’s club has spent at least $5 million more on salary alone than last season.
No other MLS club comes close to Miami’s salary cap. Toronto FC has the second-highest salary cap at $34.1 million, followed by Atlanta United at $27.6 million. Cincinnati has $23.2 million, MLS defending champion LA Galaxy has $22.9 million, Los Angeles FC has $22.4 million and Chicago has $22.1 million. Montreal has the lowest salary cap at $12 million and Philadelphia Union has $13.4 million.
The highest-paid players after Messi are Toronto winger Lorenzo Insigne, with $15.4 million. Then comes Miami’s former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, with $8.775 million. In addition, Atlanta winger Miguel Almiron earns $7,871,000, San Diego winger Hirving Lozano earns $7,633,333, Toronto winger Federico Bernardeschi earns $6,295,381, New York Red Bulls winger Emil Forsberg earns $6,023,625, Miami left-back Jordi Alba earns $6 million, LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig earns $5,779,688, Chicago’s Jonathan Bomba earns $5,581,806 and Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar earns $5,311,667.
A total of 902 footballers are contracted to various MLS clubs. In total, their annual salary expenditure is $586 million. This is 12.9 percent more than the previous season (2024). This rate of player salaries has been increasing since 2022. That year, the expenditure in this sector was $394 million and the following season, $460 million.
FAQ
Is it true that Lionel Messi earns more than entire teams in the league?
Yes, according to recent reports, Messi’s total income at Inter Miami is higher than the combined salaries of players from 21 other MLS teams.
How much does Messi earn at Inter Miami?
While the exact number varies depending on sources, Messi reportedly earns over $50 million per year, including salary, bonuses, and sponsorship deals tied to the club.
Which teams in MLS have lower total player salaries than Messi’s income?
Most MLS teams, except a few like LA Galaxy or Toronto FC, spend less on their entire squad than what Messi earns individually.
Why is Messi paid so much in Miami?
His income includes not just salary but also revenue-sharing agreements with companies like Apple (MLS Season Pass) and Adidas, as well as brand value and global influence.
Is Messi the highest-paid player in MLS history?
Yes, Messi’s contract is the most lucrative in MLS history, far surpassing previous stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović or David Beckham.
Does Messi’s income affect Inter Miami’s salary cap?
Not directly. Messi is a Designated Player (DP), meaning his salary goes beyond the cap rules, allowing teams to pay top stars more freely.