Lionel Messi continues to dominate Major League Soccer, both on the pitch and on the paycheck. The Argentine superstar remains the league's highest earner with an annual base salary of $25 million (£18.5 million)—more than double what any other player takes home.

The figures, released by the MLS Players Association, reflect the contract extension Messi signed with Inter Miami last October. His base salary has doubled since his initial deal, while his total guaranteed compensation now sits at $28.3 million (£20.9 million). Not bad for a player who turns 39 next month.

Coming in second is LAFC's Son Heung-min, earning a base salary of $10.4 million (£7.7 million), with $11.2 million (£8.3 million) guaranteed. The former Tottenham forward just edges out Inter Miami's Rodrigo de Paul and San Diego FC's Hirving Lozano in the league's financial pecking order.

It's worth noting these figures don't include endorsement income or Messi's option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami—a club co-owned by David Beckham. When you factor in those extras, Messi's total earnings in MLS are truly in a league of their own.

Since joining the Florida franchise in 2023, Messi has been worth every penny. He's scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season games, led the league with 29 goals last season, and helped Miami capture the MLS Cup in 2025. For the second straight year, he was named the league's Most Valuable Player.