Messi Remains MLS’s Highest-Paid Player

Unsurprisingly, global footballing superstar Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in the Major League Soccer (MLS) ranks – shocking stuff.

Major League Soccer Players’ Association’s (MLSPA) latest salary dump confirms what everyone already knew: the Argentine magician pockets $20.45 million annually in guaranteed compensation.

That’s just the baseline figure, mind you, excluding his Adidas deal and Apple TV revenue share that could push his total package north of $150 million over his Miami stint, according to Sportico.

Inter Miami have predictably emerged as the league’s biggest spenders at $46.84 million – $5 million more than their own record from last spring. The Herons’ payroll dwarfs nearly everyone else, sitting more than double all but two clubs in the 30-team league.

Toronto FC ($34.15m) and Atlanta United ($27.63m) round out the podium, followed by FC Cincinnati ($23.18m) and reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy ($22.87m).

The numbers, current as of May 2025, reveal a league where the salary floor is rising. Average guaranteed compensation jumped 9.22% to $649,199, while the median climbed 10.1% to $339,876 – decent news for the players who make up MLS’s backbone.

A total of 131 players now earn at least $1 million guaranteed, up from 115 last year. Below is the pecking order from the penthouse to the outhouse.

• Inter Miami – $46.84m
• Toronto FC – $34.15m
• Atlanta United – $27.63m
• FC Cincinnati – $23.18m
• LA Galaxy – $22.87m
• LAFC – $22.37m
• Chicago Fire – $22.05m
• Nashville SC – $21.75m
• New York Red Bulls – $21.54m
• San Diego FC – $20.03m
• Portland Timbers – $19.57m
• FC Dallas – $18.98m
• St. Louis City – $18.11m
• Seattle Sounders – $18.09m
• Sporting Kansas City – $17.72m
• New England Revolution – $17.19m
• San Jose Earthquakes – $17.19m
• Charlotte FC – $17.13m
• Orlando City – $16.44m
• Columbus Crew – $16.36m
• Vancouver Whitecaps – $15.71m
• Colorado Rapids – $15.48m
• Austin FC – $15.33m
• New York City FC – $14.96m
• D.C. United – $14.62m
• Minnesota United – $13.8m
• Houston Dynamo – $13.41m
• Real Salt Lake – $13.41m
• Philadelphia Union – $13.37m
• CF Montreal – $11.99m

The gap between Miami’s star-studded squad and the penny-pinching operations at the bottom tells the story of a league still finding its financial identity.