Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in MLS but now has some company in the eight-figure club.
The Argentina superstar and 2022 World Cup winner is joined by LAFC forward Son Heung-min, who has a salary of $10,368,750 and total compensation of $11,152,852. Both those figures are still behind Messi’s $12 million salary (and $20,446,667 total compensation) from Inter Miami.
Son joined LAFC this summer after a storied career at Tottenham Hotspur and is expected to captain South Korea at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s total package is from his initial MLS deal, which runs through the 2025 season, including any marketing bonus and agent’s fees. They do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses. Miami said last week Messi had agreed to a new deal through 2028.
The top 10 players are as follows:
| Player | Club | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $12,000,000 | $20,446,667 |
| Son Heung-min | LAFC | $10,368,750 | $11,152,852 |
| Sergio Busquets | Inter Miami | $8,499,996 | $8,774,996 |
| Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United | $6,056,000 | $7,871,000 |
| Hirving Lozano | San Diego FC | $6,000,000 | $7,633,333 |
| Emil Forsberg | New York Red Bulls | $5,405,000 | $6,035,625 |
| Jordi Alba | Inter Miami | $6,000,000 | $6,000,000 |
| Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | $5,125,000 | $5,779,688 |
| Jonathan Bamba | Chicago Fire | $5,000,000 | $5,581,806 |
| Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | $3,900,000 | $5,311,667 |
| Christian Benteke | DC United | $4,500,000 | $4,937,500 |
Rekan setim Messi, Sergio Busquets, berada di urutan ketiga liga dengan kompensasi lebih dari $8,8 juta. Pemenang Piala Dunia 2010 itu akan pensiun pada akhir musim ini. Gelandang Rodrigo De Paul, rekan setim baru Messi di Miami, memiliki gaji $1,5 juta dan total kompensasi $3.619.320.
Itu angka dirilis Rabu oleh Asosiasi Pemain MLS.
Tambahan penting lainnya ke liga selama jendela penandatanganan musim panas termasuk pemain sayap San Diego Hirving “Chucky” Lozano ($6 juta/$7,633,333), pemain sayap Chicago Jonathan Bamba ($5 juta/$5,581,806), pemain sayap Charlotte Wilfried Zaha ($2,666,667/$2,751,667), gelandang Vancouver Thomas Muller ($1,284,456/$1,436,956), penyerang Columbus Wessam Abou Ali ($1,8 juta/$2,157,375) dan penyerang Philadelphia Milan Iloski ($500,000/$552,569).
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