Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi remains the highest paid MLS player with a salary of £18.5m

Lionel Messi remains the highest paid player in Major League Soccer with an annual base salary of $25m (£18.5m) – more than double the next highest earner in the North American league.

Statistics are published, outsider The contract extension by the MLS Players Association reflects that Messi, who turns 39 next month, Signed with Inter Miami In October

The Argentina forward’s base salary has doubled, while the overall deal is worth $28.3m (£20.9m) in guaranteed compensation.

Heung-min is the son of LAFC Second highest earner on $10.4m (£7.7m) basis with $11.2m (£8.3m) guaranteed.

The former Tottenham forward, 33, earns slightly more than Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul and San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano.

The salary does not include income from endorsement deals, or Messi’s option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami – co-owned by David Beckham.

Messi joined the Florida franchise in 2023 and scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season MLS games, helping Miami win the MLS Cup in 2025.

He led the league with 29 goals last season and was named Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.