sports
Lionel Messi Tops MLS Salaries at $28.3 Million
Lionel Messi earns $28.3 million in his fourth season with Inter Miami under his second MLS contract. Son Heung-min ranks second at $11.2 million with LAFC, followed by Rodrigo De Paul at $9.7 million. The MLS Players Association released the salary data, which shows compensation for new arrivals and contract changes across the league.
May 12, 2:54 PM·2m read1 source
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Lionel Messi receives $28.3 million in his fourth season with Inter Miami under the terms of his second contract with the club. The figure does not include additional earnings from Apple streaming subscriptions or jersey sales through Adidas and Fanatics.
Son Heung-min ranks second among MLS players, earning $11.2 million with Los Angeles FC. Rodrigo De Paul follows at $9.7 million with Inter Miami.
Only one team in the league spends more across its entire roster than Inter Miami pays Messi alone. LAFC fields the league's only other eight-figure earner in Son. The salary figures do not include transfer fees. Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union have the league's two lowest wage bills at $12.4 million and $11.7 million respectively.
San Diego FC is committed to pay Hirving Lozano $9.3 million this season. The amount is almost triple the $3.6 million paid to teammate Anders Dreyer. Lozano has not played this season after being benched during the postseason for behavioral reasons.
The data release includes first-time salary details for several new players. Thomas Müller earns $5.2 million with LAFC. Timo Werner leads San Jose with $4.3 million, while Josh Sargent receives $5.3 million with Toronto FC. Other new arrivals include Facundo Torres at $4.4 million with Austin, Germán Berterame at $3.8 million with Miami, Mateusz Bogusz at $2.5 million with Houston, and Morgan Guilavogui at $2.2 million with Real Salt Lake.
James Rodríguez signed a half-year deal with Minnesota at an annualized salary of $684,000. Paul Rothrock received a raise to $525,000 with Seattle after earning $105,000 the previous season. Cristian Espinoza earns $2.3 million with Nashville. Robin Lod signed with Chicago for $866,667 after a slight reduction from his previous contract in Minnesota.
