Stick to the Facts
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The financial landscape of Major League Soccer is changing rapidly, and once again, Lionel Messi is at the center of the transformation. The latest MLS Players Association salary figures show that the Inter Miami superstar remains the highest-paid player in MLS for the third consecutive year, while Inter Miami continues to outspend nearly every club in the league by a massive margin.
The new salary data highlights how the arrival of global soccer superstars has dramatically reshaped the economics of MLS, pushing salaries, club spending, and international attention to record levels.
Lionel Messi Remains MLS Highest-Paid Player in 2026
According to the latest figures released by the MLS Players Association, Lionel Messi will earn a guaranteed compensation package of approximately $28.33 million during the 2026 MLS season.
That marks a major increase from the roughly $20.45 million he earned during the 2025 campaign.
The salary increase comes after Messi signed a contract extension with Inter Miami CF through the 2028 season, ensuring that the Argentine superstar remains the face of both the club and the league for years to come.
However, the official MLS salary only reflects Messi’s on-field compensation. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas previously revealed that Messi’s total annual earnings, including sponsorships, partnerships, and commercial agreements, are estimated to be between $70 million and $80 million per year.
Messi is also expected to receive an ownership stake in Inter Miami after retirement, making his long-term connection to the club even more significant.
Inter Miami Salary Spending Reaches Historic Levels
The impact of Messi’s arrival has gone far beyond one player salary. Inter Miami CF now dominates MLS spending at an unprecedented level.
Inter Miami’s total guaranteed compensation for players reached $54.57 million, setting another league record and surpassing the club’s own record from the previous season by approximately $7.7 million.
The gap between Inter Miami and the rest of MLS has become enormous.
Top MLS Team Payrolls in 2026
- Inter Miami CF – $54.57 million
- Los Angeles FC – $32.65 million
- Atlanta United FC – $27.88 million
- LA Galaxy – $26.43 million
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC – $24.56 million
- San Diego FC – $24.39 million
- FC Cincinnati – $23.47 million
- Nashville SC – $22.99 million
- Columbus Crew – $22.34 million
- Chicago Fire FC – $21.73 million
Inter Miami’s payroll is now more than double that of many MLS clubs, highlighting how dramatically the league’s financial structure has evolved.
Son Heung-min and Rodrigo De Paul Join MLS Salary Elite
While Messi remains comfortably at the top, several other international stars are now among the highest-paid players in MLS.
Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC ranks second with guaranteed compensation of approximately $11.15 million.
Messi’s teammate Rodrigo De Paul comes in third at around $9.6 million, showing how aggressively Inter Miami continues to invest in elite international talent.
Other top earners include:
- Hirving Lozano of San Diego FC at $9.33 million
- Miguel Almirón of Atlanta United FC at $7.87 million
The growing number of multi-million-dollar MLS contracts reflects the league’s ambition to compete more aggressively for global soccer talent.
MLS Salaries Continue Rising Across the League
The latest data also shows broader salary growth throughout MLS.
The average guaranteed compensation across the league has now climbed to approximately $688,816, representing a 6.1% increase from the previous year.
Meanwhile, the median salary rose to about $352,104, highlighting steady growth even among non-superstar players.
Another major milestone is the growing number of million-dollar earners in MLS:
- 133 MLS players now earn at least $1 million annually
- Last year, that number stood at 131
This demonstrates how MLS salaries are steadily expanding across the league, not just among marquee signings like Lionel Messi.
Philadelphia Union and Smaller-Spending MLS Clubs
While Inter Miami leads the spending race, other clubs continue operating with significantly smaller payrolls.
The lowest-spending MLS team is currently Philadelphia Union with guaranteed compensation totaling approximately $11.70 million.
Other lower-spending clubs include:
- Sporting Kansas City – $12.36 million
- CF Montréal – $13.42 million
- Orlando City SC – $13.73 million
- Colorado Rapids – $14.13 million
The widening financial gap between clubs has become one of the defining stories in modern MLS.
MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement Could Change Again
The league is currently operating under the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2021 between MLS and the MLS Players Association.
The agreement runs through the end of the 2027 season. However, MLS plans to transition toward a summer-to-spring calendar format beginning next year, including a special “sprint season” in early 2027.
Because of those structural changes, many analysts expect future salary rules, roster regulations, and compensation systems to be renegotiated.
This could have major implications for future MLS spending, designated player rules, and international recruitment.
Lionel Messi’s MLS Impact Goes Beyond Salary Numbers
The influence of Lionel Messi on MLS extends far beyond payroll figures.
Since arriving at Inter Miami CF, Messi has helped transform the league’s international visibility, commercial value, ticket demand, television audiences, and sponsorship activity.
MLS attendance, jersey sales, and media coverage have all surged during the Messi era.
His presence has also encouraged more international stars to consider MLS as a serious destination rather than simply a late-career retirement league.
The latest salary figures confirm that Major League Soccer is entering a completely different financial era.
At the center of that transformation is Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF, whose spending power, star attraction, and global attention continue reshaping the league.
With Messi earning more than $28 million in guaranteed compensation and Inter Miami spending over $54 million on payroll, MLS is no longer operating on the same financial scale it once did.
As more international stars arrive and club spending continues climbing, the league’s future appears increasingly global, competitive, and commercially ambitious.