Lionel Messi remains MLS's top earner, with Son Heung-min as his closest challenger in the American league.

Saturday, 1 November 2025 | 11:30

Author: Arif S

Megabintang Inter Miami CF Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami CF megastar Lionel Messi.
Source: Antara/Xinhua/Xu

Summary

1. Lionel Messi is MLS's highest-paid player, earning a $10 million guaranteed annual salary and $20.4 million total compensation from Inter Miami, plus substantial sponsor and profit-sharing income.

2. Son Heung-min immediately became MLS's second-highest-paid player, securing an $11.2 million deal over two years with LAFC, including an extension option through 2029.

3. Inter Miami leads MLS in payroll spending at $48.97 million, while CF Montreal has the league's lowest payroll at $12.92 million.

Argentine megastar Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS). Meanwhile, South Korean newcomer Son Heung-min immediately secured the second spot on the list of the league's top earners.

According to reports obtained by ESPN from MLS as of October 1st, Messi receives a guaranteed annual salary exceeding $10 million USD or approximately Rp170 billion. In total, his contract with Inter Miami pays him $20.4 million USD per year, equivalent to Rp340 billion.

This staggering figure isn't solely from base salary. Messi also earns additional income from signing bonuses, agent commissions, and potential team bonuses and performance incentives.

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Furthermore, Messi continues to enjoy substantial earnings from his global contract with Adidas and revenue sharing with Apple TV, the official broadcast rights holder for MLS.

Combined, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is estimated to earn around $150 million USD over 2.5 years. This amount will increase as Messi's contract extends until 2028.

Behind Messi, Son Heung-min becomes the second-highest-paid player in MLS. The South Korean star receives $11.2 million USD over two years playing for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and has a contract extension option until 2029.

Meanwhile, Messi's Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets holds the third position with an $8.8 million USD annual salary. The following spots are occupied by Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron with $6.1 million USD, and Hirving Lozano, paid $6 million USD by San Diego FC.

Inter Miami Still Reigns Supreme in MLS Spending

It's not just Messi and Busquets putting Inter Miami in the spotlight. This David Beckham-owned club remains the team with the highest salary expenditure in MLS.

After signing Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Miami's total salary expenditure reached $48.97 million USD, more than double that of the league's other 27 teams.

Behind Inter Miami, LAFC follows with $30.1 million USD, trailed by Atlanta United ($28.48 million USD), FC Cincinnati ($23.19 million USD), and Chicago Fire ($23.11 million USD).

Conversely, the team with the lowest salary expenditure is CF Montreal at $12.92 million USD, followed by FC Dallas ($13.15 million USD), Philadelphia Union ($13.43 million USD), Toronto FC ($13.65 million USD), and Minnesota United ($14.54 million USD).

For Toronto FC specifically, this figure dropped drastically after the Canadian club released Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, two Italian players previously among the highest earners.

With Messi dominating the top of the salary list and Inter Miami leading in expenditure, MLS continues to demonstrate its transformation into an increasingly attractive league, not just competitively, but also in terms of commercial value and its global draw for major stars.