Lionel Messi is once again MLS’s top earner, with the Inter Miami star set to make a record $28.3 million this year, according to the latest salary data released by the MLS Players Association.
The figure represents a significant increase from last season and places Messi’s earnings above the total payrolls of most clubs in the league. His influence is also reflected in Inter Miami’s overall spending, with the club boasting the highest wage bill in MLS at $54.6 million — well ahead of their closest rivals.
Miami’s financial power is evident across the squad, with multiple players among the league’s highest earners. New signing Germán Berterame is among those on a lucrative deal, further strengthening the club’s position at the top of the spending rankings.
Elsewhere, LAFC forward Son Heung-min ranks as the second-highest paid player, earning just over $11 million. Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul and San Diego’s Hirving Lozano are also among the top earners, each bringing in close to $10 million annually.
Several other notable names feature high on the list, including Atlanta’s Miguel Almirón, New York Red Bulls’ Emil Forsberg and Nashville’s Sam Surridge. LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig also remains among the top earners despite missing the season through injury.
At the other end of the scale, some clubs have maintained a more conservative approach. Philadelphia Union sit at the bottom of the payroll rankings, with one of the lowest total wage bills in the league, alongside Sporting Kansas City and CF Montreal.
The latest figures highlight the growing financial gap within MLS, with a handful of clubs — led by Inter Miami — significantly outspending the rest.
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