Lionel Messi Tops the List of Highest-Paid MLS Players
The Argentinian star Lionel Messi, Inter Miami forward, remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the second consecutive year. According to data from the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), Messi receives a total guaranteed compensation of $20.45 million.
This figure, as in previous years, represents only the salary portion of Messi’s contract. Additionally, the player benefits from other income derived from commercial agreements, such as his contract with Adidas, and a revenue-sharing agreement with Apple, the league’s broadcast partner.
According to estimates, Messi could earn up to $150 million during the term of his two-and-a-half-year contract signed with Inter Miami and MLS in the summer of 2023.
In the list of the highest-earning players, Lorenzo Insigne, forward for Toronto FC, follows, with a guaranteed compensation of $15.44 million. Third place is held by Sergio Busquets, Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami, with $8.5 million. Miguel Almirón, from Atlanta United, is in fourth place with $7.87 million, followed by Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, from San Diego FC, with $7.63 million.The MLSPA salary data corresponds to May 25, 2025. The players’ union usually publishes two salary updates a year. It should be noted that, two years ago, before Messi’s arrival, Insigne was the highest-paid player in the league.
Inter Miami continues to lead the league in terms of total guaranteed compensation per team, with $46.84 million. This figure exceeds by $5 million the record set by the same team the previous year, and is more than double that of most other teams.
Toronto FC: $34.15 million
Atlanta United FC: $27.63 million
FC Cincinnati: $23.18 million
LA Galaxy: $22.87 million
CF Montréal is the team with the lowest spending, with $11.99 million, followed by Philadelphia Union ($13.37 million), Real Salt Lake ($13.413 million), Houston Dynamo ($13.414 million) and Minnesota United ($13.80 million).
The average guaranteed compensation for the player pool is $649,199, an increase of 9.22% compared to the spring 2024 figure, which was $594,390. The median salary also experienced an increase of 10.1%, rising from $308,750 the previous year to $339,876 currently. In total, 131 players have guaranteed compensation of at least $1 million, compared to 115 last year.
The MLS and MLSPA are in the fifth year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) agreed upon in February 2021. The current CBA is in effect until the end of the 2027 season.
