De 12 à 25 millions : Comment Messi a fait exploser son salaire en seulement trois ans
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has more than doubled his base salary — which this year stands at $25 million — by 2026 since joining Inter Miami in 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the players' union of Major League Soccer (MLS).
With a guaranteed annualized salary of over $28.3 million (approximately €24.3 million), corresponding to his base salary plus various bonuses, the 38-year-old World Cup winner remains by far the highest-paid player in MLS. He surpasses Los Angeles FC's South Korean recruit, Son Heung-min, who earns over $11 million.
Upon joining the Florida franchise in 2023, Messi's base salary was $12 million ($20.5 million including bonuses). With 29 goals and 19 assists in 2025, he helped the club win its first title in December. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, extended his contract in October until 2028.
The figures released by the MLS players' union do not include revenue from commercial partnerships signed by players in their personal capacity.
Argentinean Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's teammate in Miami, completes the top three highest-paid players with a guaranteed salary of $9.6 million USD. Former Bayern Munich striker Thomas Müller, now with the Vancouver Whitecaps, earns over $5.1 million USD. The North American league runs on the calendar year, from February to December.
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