Lionel Messi remains MLS highest-paid player after signing a new Inter Miami contract extension worth over $28m in guaranteed compensation

Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentina national team and forward for Inter Miami CF, has retained his position as the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer following a lucrative contract extension.

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The Messi MLS highest-paid player update was confirmed after figures released by the MLS Players Association showed the 38-year-old continues to dominate the league’s salary structure.

According to the report, Messi earns an annual base salary of $25 million, placing him well ahead of other players in the league and reinforcing his status as MLS’s biggest global star.

His total guaranteed compensation is reported to be $28.3 million, further highlighting the financial scale of his deal with the Florida-based club.

Messi signed the contract extension with Inter Miami in October, extending his stay in the United States after joining the club in 2023.

Since his arrival, Messi has transformed the profile of Major League Soccer both on and off the pitch, driving global attention to the league.

The Messi MLS highest-paid player status comes alongside an impressive on-field record, with the forward scoring 59 goals in 64 regular-season appearances.

He also played a key role in Inter Miami’s MLS Cup triumph in 2025 and finished last season as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals.

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min ranks as the second-highest earner in MLS, with a base salary of $11.2 million.

Other top earners in the league include Rodrigo De Paul and Hirving Lozano, according to the latest salary disclosures.

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The figures do not include endorsement earnings or Messi’s reported option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham.