Messi stays MLS's top earner with $25 million base salary

LOS ANGELES: Lionel Messi remains Major League Soccer's highest-paid player, with an annual base salary of $25 million, according to figures released on Tuesday by the MLS Players Association.

The latest salary list reflects the contract extension Messi signed with Inter Miami in October, a deal that will keep him at the Florida club through the 2028 season. The figures show that Messi's base salary has doubled, while his total guaranteed compensation under the agreement stands at $28.3 million.

Messi's earnings place him well ahead of the next-highest paid player in the league. South Korea's Son Heung-min, the former Tottenham captain who joined Los Angeles FC last August for a reported MLS record transfer fee of $26 million, is listed with a base salary of $10.36 million and guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million.

Inter Miami and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is third on the salary list with guaranteed compensation of $9.7 million.

Mexico international Hirving Chucky Lozano is fourth with $9.3 million in guaranteed compensation, despite not having played for San Diego since November.

Atlanta's Miguel Almiron completes the top five, with guaranteed compensation of $7.9 million.

Messi's deal and league figures

The salary figures do not include endorsement income. Messi's compensation also does not account for his option to acquire a stake in the Inter Miami franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham. Messi joined the club in 2023.

The 38-year-old is expected to lead Argentina's defence of the World Cup title starting next month. In MLS regular-season play for Miami, he has scored 59 goals in 64 matches. Last season, he led the league with 29 goals and was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year.

The MLS Players Association said total league compensation was $631 million. Average guaranteed compensation across the league was listed at $688,816, marking an 8.9% increase from the figures released last October.

The updated salary data underlines Messi's continued status as the league's biggest earner, with his base salary alone more than double that of Son, the player ranked second on the list.