Messi doubles salary to US$28m, twice MLS next best
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is picking up a guaranteed A$35m each season in his new deal. -AP
Lionel Messi has more than doubled his salary to $US25 million ($A35 million) in his new contract with Inter Miami and earns more more than twice as much as the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, Los Angeles FC's Son Heung-min.
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Messi's new contract includes $US25 million ($A35 million) in base salary and $US28,333,333 ($A39 million) in guaranteed compensation, the MLS Players Association said in their first release of 2026 salaries. He earns more than the payrolls of 28 of the other 29 MLS teams.
Messi's initial MLS contract, agreed to in July 2023, included a $US12m ($A17 m) base and guaranteed compensation of $US20,446,667 ($A28 million). Messi agreed last October to a three-year contract through the 2028 season, then led the team to its first MLS title.
His salary figures are for his MLS contract and include any marketing bonus and agent's fees but do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.
MLS's median salary — the point an equal number of players earned above and below — rose to $US352,104 ($A487,000), one 80th of Messi's guaranteed pay.
