Lionel Messi Tops MLS Earnings Again with $28.3 Million Salary
Messi is MLS's top earner once again: 2026 salary release takeaways
The Guardian
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Lionel Messi's salary for the 2026 season with Inter Miami is $28.3 million, making him the highest earner in Major League Soccer (MLS) once more. Son Heung-min follows in second place at $11.2 million, while Rodrigo De Paul earns $9.7 million. The salary data reveals significant disparities in team wage bills across the league.
- 01Lionel Messi earns $28.3 million, making him MLS's top earner.
- 02Son Heung-min is the second highest-paid player at $11.2 million.
- 03Rodrigo De Paul ranks third with a salary of $9.7 million.
- 04Inter Miami's salary for Messi exceeds the total wage bill of most teams.
- 05Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia Union have the lowest wage bills in the league.
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Lionel Messi continues to dominate Major League Soccer (MLS) earnings with a staggering $28.3 million salary for the 2026 season at Inter Miami. This figure positions him as the league's highest earner, significantly ahead of Son Heung-min, who earns $11.2 million with Los Angeles FC, and Rodrigo De Paul, who takes home $9.7 million. The MLS Players Association's latest salary release highlights the financial landscape of the league, revealing that Messi's salary alone surpasses the total wage bills of many teams. For instance, Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union have the lowest wage bills at $12.4 million and $11.7 million, respectively. The data also indicates that Miami commits 76.7% of its salary budget to its top three earners, showcasing the financial imbalance within the league. Additionally, the release sheds light on new players and salary increases across teams, with notable increases for San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC, while teams like Sporting Kansas City have seen significant decreases in their wage bills.
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The salary disparities reflect the financial strategies of MLS teams, influencing player recruitment and retention.
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