Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has emerged as Major League Soccer's highest-paid player, boasting a total guaranteed compensation of $20.45 million, as per data disclosed by the MLS Players Association. This figure solely represents the playing segment of Messi's earnings, with additional revenue streams stemming from his endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue-sharing pact with league broadcast partner Apple.
According to Sportico, Messi stands to amass a staggering $150 million over the duration of the two-and-a-half-year contract he inked with Miami and MLS in the previous year. Following Messi, Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne secures the second spot with a guaranteed compensation of $15.44 million, trailed by Messi's Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets at $8.77 million.
Chicago Fire forward Xherdan Shaqiri, who held the league's top earner position a year ago, now ranks fourth with $8.15 million, succeeded by Austin FC forward Sebastián Driussi at $6.72 million. The salary figures from the MLSPA are current as of April 25, 2024.
Inter Miami's lavish spending spree becomes evident when examining the total guaranteed compensation per team. The Herons lead the pack with a staggering $41.68 million, setting a new league record and surpassing all but three other teams by more than double the amount.
Toronto FC follows with an outlay of $31.41 million, trailed by Chicago Fire at $25.13 million, Nashville SC at $21.4 million, and FC Cincinnati at $18.71 million. Reigning MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew, rank 21st with a payroll of $15.19 million, while St. Louis City and CF Montréal boast the lowest payrolls at $11.79 million and $12.05 million, respectively.
The average guaranteed compensation for all players stands at $594,390, marking a 12.4% increase from the spring of 2023. In contrast, the median salary rose by just 4.8% from $294,500 a year ago to $308,750 presently, with 115 players securing a guaranteed compensation of at least $1 million.
MLS and the MLSPA are currently in the fourth year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) established in February 2021, set to run through the conclusion of the 2027 season.
Here is the total Guaranteed Compensation per team:
- Inter Miami - $41.68 million
- Toronto FC - $31.41 million
- Chicago Fire - $25.13 million
- Nashville SC - $21.4 million
- FC Cincinnati - $18.71 million
- Austin FC - $18.41 million
- New England Revolution - $18.32 million
- LA Galaxy - $17.93 million
- New York Red Bulls - $17.11 million
- Houston Dynamo - $16.77 million
- Atlanta United - $16.66 million
- Seattle Sounders - $16.58 million
- New York City FC - $16.54 million
- Colorado Rapids - $16.33 million
- FC Dallas - $16.23 million
- D.C. United - $16.17 million
- LAFC - $15.9 million
- Sporting Kansas City - $15.87 million
- Portland Timbers - $15.37 million
- Vancouver Whitecaps - $15.2 million
- Columbus Crew - $15.19 million
- Orlando City - $15.07 million
- Minnesota United - $14.91 million
- Philadelphia Union - $14.82 million
- Charlotte FC - $14.53 million
- San Jose Earthquakes - $13.63 million
- Real Salt Lake - $13.6 million
- CF Montréal - $12.05 million
- St. Louis City - $11.79 million
