The MLS Money of Messi At Inter Miami

Did you know Lionel Messi's earnings playing for Inter Miami in 2024 is more than the entire roster of 25 MLS teams? 

According to the MLS Players Association, Messi’s base salary is $12 million, and his “annualized average guaranteed compensation," which includes prorated bonuses, effectively makes his true salary just over $20.4 million.

Today, most MLS clubs spend between $12 million and $19 million annually on their entire roster compensation, with three clubs, which have the MLS’s four highest earners, spending significantly more. 

INSIDE MLS TEAM PAYROLL’S
According to the MLS Players Association, the following is a list of all 29 MLS team payrolls as of April 25, 2024. The numbers in parentheses are base salaries only, with the main figures including base salaries and bonuses.

1. Inter Miami — $41.7 million ($30.9 million)

2. Toronto FC — $31.4 million ($19.1 million)

3. Chicago Fire — $25.1 million ($23.1 million)

4. Nashville SC — $21.4 million ($18.5 million)

5. FC Cincinnati — $18.7 million ($15.9 million)

6. Austin FC — $18.4 million ($15.1 million)

7. New England Revolution — $18.3 million ($17.1 million)

8. Los Angeles Galaxy — $17.9 million ($16.1 million)

9. New York Red Bulls — $17.1 million ($15.2 million)

10. Houston Dynamo — $16.8 million ($15.1 million)

11. Atlanta United — $16.7 million ($14.3 million)

12. Seattle Sounders — $16.6 million ($15.0 million)

13. NYCFC — $16.5 million ($14.6 million)

14. Colorado Rapids — $16.3 million ($14.7 million)

15. FC Dallas — $16.2 million ($14.4 million)

16. DC United — $16.2 million ($15.0 million)

17. LAFC — $15.9 million ($14.7 million)

18. Sporting Kansas City — $15.9 million ($15.5 million)

19. Portland Timbers — $15.4 million ($13.0 million)

20. Vancouver Whitecaps — $15.2 million ($14.2 million)

21. Columbus Crew — $15.2 million ($13.4 million)

22. Orlando City — $15.1 million ($12.4 million)

23. Minnesota United — $14.9 million ($13.1 million)

24. Philadelphia Union — $14.8 million ($13.1 million)

25. Charlotte FC — $14.5 million ($13.4 million)

26. San Jose Earthquakes — $13.6 million ($12.5 million)

27. Real Salt Lake — $13.6 million ($12.4 million)

28. CF Montreal — $12.0 million ($10.8 million)

29. St. Louis City — $12.0 million ($10.8 million)

TOP 20 MLS PLAYERS' SALARIES
Per the MLSPA, these are the highest-paid earners in MLS.

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) — $20.4 million ($12.0 million base salary)

2. Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) — $15.4 million ($7.5 million)

3. Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) — $8.8 million ($8.5 million)

4. Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) — $8.2 million ($7.4 million)

5. Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC) — $6.7 million ($4.5 million)

6. Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC) — $6.3 million ($3.1 million)

7. Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls) — $6.0 million ($5.4 million)

8. Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo) — $5.2 million ($4.8 million)

9. Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) — $5.2 million ($3.8 million)

10. Carles Gil (New England Revolution) — $4.5 million ($4.0 million)

11. Christian Benteke (DC United) — $4.4 million ($4.3 million)

12. Luis Muriel (Orlando City) — $4.3 million ($2.8 million)

13. Lucho Acosta (FC Cincinnati) — $4.2 million ($3.0 million)

14. Denis Bouanga (LAFC) — $3.6 million ($2.9 million)

15. Alan Pulido (Sporting KC) — $3.6 million ($3.6 million)

16. Teemu Pukki (Minnesota United) — $3.6 million ($3.2 million)

17. Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire) — $3.5 million ($3.2 million)

18. Walker Zimmerman (Nashville) — $3.5 million ($3.2 million)

19. Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew) — $3.4 million ($2.7 million)

20. Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy) — $3.4 million ($3.1 million)

HOW MUCH IS MESSI REALLY MAKING TO PLAY IN THE MLS
Factoring in Mess’s $20.4 salary plus earnings from Adidas, Fanatics, Apple, a variety of other MLS partners, and Messi’s equity compensation in Inter Miami, he is actually making north of $50 million per season. Beyond that, Messi brought home over $135 million last year, including additional global endorsement and sponsorship deals, as reported by Forbes.

INSIDE THE MLS-DESIGNATED PLAYERS SALARIES
Ultimately, each team in the MLS can spend whatever they want on 3 players—this rule largely creates uneven team salaries but makes it possible for MLS teams to bring in some elite players from around the globe.  

THE UNDERRATED OPINION
We would probably not publish an article about the MLS payrolls and salaries if Messi had not agreed to play for Inter Miami. While the economic impact of Messi is hard to quantify, it is safe to say that for a league desperately seeking additional national and international credibility, bringing Messi to the MLS may prove actually to be a bargain.