Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami pay packet is a league-high $20.4m (£16.6m) per annum, the MLS Players Association have confirmed.
The 36-year-old moved to Miami in the summer after running down his Paris Saint-Germain contract, penning a two-and-a-half-year deal to join the franchise co-owned by David Beckham.
Messi’s impact in Florida was immediate, with the club’s Leagues Cup trophy win a direct result of the legendary Argentine’s integration into the team and his ten goals in just seven games. Miami not only lifted their first ever piece of silverware but they also reached the final of the US Open Cup – they came up short against Houston Dynamo, however, with Messi ruled out of the game through injury.
Miami also failed to reach the season-ending playoffs, with Messi’s prolonged absence from the side seeing the club go on an untimely winless streak, and that means they’ll have a watching brief as 18 sides battle it out to win the 2023 MLS Cup.
But one thing Miami are top of the MLS standings for is base salary. A press release from the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) reveals that Messi earns $12m as a base salary, earning an additional $8.4m in guaranteed compensation.
That figure is purely a reflection of Messi’s salary, with other commercial deals and sponsorships taking his earnings beyond the $50m barrier.
Lorenzo Insigne and Xherdan Shaqiri are MLS’ second and third highest-paid players, though the latter takes home less than half of what Messi is earning in Miami. Chicharito and Federico Bernardeschi, who have played for Manchester United and Juventus respectively over the course of their careers, make up the top five.
MLSPA: 10 highest paid players
| Player | Club | Base Salary | Guaranteed Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $12m | $20.4m |
| Lorenzo Insigne | Toronto FC | $7.5m | $15.4m |
| Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire | $7.3m | $8.1m |
| Chicharito | LA Galaxy | $6m | $7.4m |
| Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | $3.1m | $6.2m |
| Sebastian Driussi | Austin FC | $3.8m | $6m |
| Hector Herrera | Houston Dynamo | $4.75m | $5.2m |
| Douglas Costa | LA Galaxy | $3m | $4.5m |
| Christian Benteke | DC United | $4.4m | $4.4m |
| Josef Martinez | Inter Miami | $4m | $4.3m |
Messi’s former Barcelona teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, take home a far reduced figure now they are in the twilight of their careers, but they are still taking home decent money from the Herons.
Busquets’ base salary is measured at $1.5m, topping up to $1.75m in guaranteed compensation, whereas Alba takes home $1m that is bolstered to $1.25m.
Former Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki, who joined Minnesota United FC after ending his Carrow Road career, makes a handsome $3.2M base salary in his new surroundings, reaching just over $3.5m in guaranteed money.
