Lionel Messi continues to dominate Major League Soccer both on the pitch and on the paycheck. The Inter Miami superstar has once again widened the gap atop MLS salary rankings after signing a new contract last October, with his guaranteed compensation for the 2026 season climbing to a staggering $28.333 million.
That represents a 39% raise from his 2025 earnings of $20.446 million, according to data released Tuesday by the MLS Players Association. Messi's base salary alone jumped from $12 million to $25 million, while guaranteed compensation includes signing bonuses and other payments annualized over the life of his deal, which now runs through the 2028-29 season.
But the numbers don't stop there. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas told Bloomberg in March that when you factor in Messi's ownership stake in the club, the Argentine icon pulls in between $70 million and $80 million per year. That's the kind of figure that reminds everyone why he remains the sport's most famous face.
At 38 years old, Messi is showing no signs of slowing down. He made history last season by becoming the first MLS player to win back-to-back MVP awards, and he capped it off by leading Inter Miami to its first MLS Cup trophy, tallying six goals and nine assists in just six playoff matches. Since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain late in the 2023 season, he has racked up 59 goals and 41 assists in 64 regular season appearances. This year alone, he has nine goals and four assists in 11 matches.
With the 2026 World Cup across North America on the horizon, Messi is expected to lead reigning champion Argentina in what could be his final international tournament.
Two other Inter Miami players cracked the top 25 in MLS pay: Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul ranks third with $9.688 million, while Mexican forward Germán Berterame comes in at No. 21 with $3.834 million. The second-highest earner overall is Korean forward Son Heung-min, who made an immediate splash for LAFC last summer after leaving Tottenham Hotspur. Son's base salary sits at $10.368 million, with total compensation reaching $11.152 million.
For American fans, the highest-paid U.S. player is forward Josh Sargent, who signed with Toronto FC this spring after eight years in Europe. He ranks 11th overall with $5.265 million in guaranteed compensation.
From record-breaking contracts to jaw-dropping performances, Messi's impact on MLS continues to grow — and so does his bank account.