Messi Makes Money: Annual Inter Miami Salary Outpaces 20 MLS Club Payrolls
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 04:03PM By Barry Janoff
October 29, 2025: The best player on the MLS pitch also continues to lead in financial rewards.
Inter Miami CF Lionel Messi remains the league's highest paid player at $20.4 million, a position he has maintained since he joined the club in July 2023.
He won’t relinquish that position any time soon. Last week, he signed a contact extension to remain with the club thru the 2028 season.
Messi’s annual salary is more than the total salaries of 20 MLS clubs, according to just-released figures from the MLS Players’ Assn.
Concurrently, Inter Miami is reaping the rewards.
Under-construction Miami Freedom Park is scheduled to open in time for the 2026 season.
Since his arrival, Inter Miami has signed sponsorship and marketing deals with some 40 marketing partners.
That currently includes Main Partners Royal Caribbean, Fracht Group Chase, Florida Group Baptist Health and Polkadot; Premium Partners Audi, Hard Rock, Heineken, Ktel One, Lowe’s, Publix, Tudor and Visa; and more than two dozen Official Partners.
LAFC's Son Heung-Min is the only other MLS player to make more than $10 million in annual salary, with a guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million, according to MLSPA,
The Top Five also include Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets ($8.8 million), Atlanta United's Miguel Almirón ($6.1 million) and San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano ($6 million).
No surprise: Inter Miami also has the league’s highest payroll: $48.97 million.
That’s $19 million more than No. 2 LAFC at $30.1 million.
And $36 million more than No. 30 CF Montreal at $12.92 million.
All MLSPA data is as of Oct. 1, 2025.
Total Spend Per Team:
1. Inter Miami - $48.97 million
2. LAFC - $30.1 million
3. Atlanta United - $28.48 million
4. FC Cincinnati - $23.19 million
5. Chicago Fire - $23.11 million
6. Nashville SC - $22.44 million
7. Portland Timbers - $22.44 million
8. LA Galaxy - $22.26 million
9. San Diego FC - $22.25 million
10. New York Red Bulls - $22.07 million
11. Columbus Crew - $19.22 million
12. New England Revolution - $19.11 million
13. Charlotte FC - $19.02 million
14. New York City FC - $18.84 million
15. Seattle Sounders - $18.25 million
16. Vancouver Whitecaps - $17.77 million
17. Sporting Kansas City - $17.61 million
18. San Jose Earthquakes - $17.08 million
19. St. Louis City SC - $16.93 million
20. Houston Dynamo - $16.77 million
21. Orlando City - $16.11 million
22. Austin FC - $15.68 million
23. Real Salt Lake - $15.66 million
24. DC United - $14.92 million
25. Colorado Rapids - $14.63 million
26. Minnesota United - $14.54 million
27. Toronto FC - $13.65 million
28. Philadelphia Union - $13.43 million
29. FC Dallas - $13.15 million
30. CF Montreal - $12.92 million
Source MLSPA
“Something Truly Historic’: Messi Extends Inter Miami CF Contract Thru ’28
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