Overview
- Lionel Messi tops the union’s 2026 salary guide, which the MLS Players Association published Tuesday, at $28,333,333 in guaranteed compensation.
- His pay is more than double any other MLS player’s and is larger than the full payroll of nearly every team in the league.
- LAFC forward Heung‑min Son ranks second at about $11.15 million, with Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul third at about $9.69 million.
- The salary guide separates base pay from guaranteed compensation and excludes sponsorships, image rights and any ownership stakes, so total earnings can be much higher.
- Inter Miami’s business has surged since Messi joined, with reports citing revenue near $200 million last season and a Forbes valuation of roughly $1.35 billion.