Lionel Messi Leads MLS With $20.4M Salary, More Than 21 Teams' Payrolls

Two years after joining Inter Miami, Lionel Messi's salary continues to overwhelm everyone else in MLS.

Per financial details from the MLS Players Association obtained by The Athletic's Jeff Reuter, the 38-year-old's guaranteed salary from the Herons is $20.4 million.

That total is more guaranteed money than 21 MLS clubs are spending on their entire roster. The only teams with a higher payroll than Messi's salary are Atlanta United ($27.6 million), Chicago Fire ($22.1 million), FC Cincinnati ($23.2 million), LA Galaxy ($22.9 million), Los Angeles FC ($22.4 million), Nashville SC ($21.8 million) and Toronto FC ($34.1 million).

Messi also accounts for nearly 44 percent of Inter Miami's total payroll ($46.8 million). Lorenzo Insigne of Toronto is the only other player earning at least $10 million ($15.4 million).

In addition to his guaranteed salary from Inter Miami, Messi is raking in money as part of his total compensation package with the club. His initial contract with the club was worth up to $150 million over two-and-a-half years.

The additional money comes from the Argentina international's signing bonus and equity stake in the club. His net worth is estimated to be $850 million and has been built up over the course of his professional career that began with Barcelona in 2004.

Messi's first full year with Inter Miami in 2024 saw the club finish first in the regular-season standings. He will lead the Herons against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, in the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.