Inter Miami are reportedly closing in on a deal that'll see Lionel Messi join them next season, with the MLS side hopeful of wrapping things up after the World Cup.
The franchise owned by David Beckham have just said goodbye to former Argentina star Gonzalo Higuain, but it's left room for them to bring in Messi as their new designated player, according to The Times. The league has already housed some of football's greatest icons, with Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Steven Gerrard and even Beckham himself playing in the division.
Should Messi join Miami, he will become the highest earner in MLS history, and also become arguably the greatest player to ever grace American soil on a weekly basis. His expected yearly salary is unknown at this time, but here Mirror Football takes a look at the top ten highest earners in MLS history, and who Messi would leapfrog to the top. Below are the highest earners in MLS history, along with their yearly salary.
10. Jermain Defoe - $6m (£4.95m)
Most professional stars from Europe decide to join MLS towards the end of their career, but Jermain Defoe did things differently. Defoe joined Toronto FC towards the second half of his career, but continued to play for eight more years after leaving the Canadian side.
Defoe became the highest paid MLS star in 2014 after he arrived from Tottenham, and was offered a healthy four-year deal. Defoe received calls from rapper Drake to help get the deal over the line, but it didn't last long.
The striker scored 11 goals in 19 games for Toronto, but became unsettled and after just five months the club said they'd entertain offers of £6m to let him go. Sunderland later bailed him out, as they sent American striker Jozy Altidore the other way in a player exchange deal.
9. Frank Lampard - $6m (£4.95m)
After spending his greatest years at Chelsea, Frank Lampard moved to New York City FC in 2014 as a free agent, which would commence in 2015 for the new MLS season. Although initially declared as a loan, Lampard then spent six months at parent club Manchester City to keep fit before the start of the MLS season.
This was then controversially delayed, and then later in 2015 he did finally join NYCFC, picking up $6m (£4.95m) a year to play in New York. Lampard went on to score 15 goals in 29 MLS games, before calling his retirement in November 2016.
Lampard turned down multiple offers to keep playing in order to switch attention to coaching, and he's now managing Everton after stints with Derby and Chelsea. Lampard helped NYCFC qualify for the MLS Cup play-offs for the very first time, something they've since won after winning the 2021 competition.
8. Javier Hernandez - $6m (£4.95m)
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez is pocketing almost £5m a year at Los Angeles Galaxy, and has become a hero for the side since signing in 2020. There are two Mexican stars in LA, with Hernandez embroiled in a rivalry with Carlos Vela, now a champion at LAFC.
Hernandez has scored 37 goals in 65 MLS games, scoring 18 in the most recent season. He certainly earned his keep in 2021, scoring 17 times in 21 appearances, but silverware has evaded him since moving to the United States.
The Mexican has a very impressive portfolio, playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and Sevilla before joining MLS. But he is finally one of the main men, after spending a lot of time as an impact substitute.
7. Bastian Schweinsteiger – $6.1m (£5.05m)
After the legendary Bastian Schweinsteiger was pushed out the Manchester United side by Jose Mourinho in 2017, he moved to Chicago Fire. The German got them back into the play-offs after a five-year absence, and earned himself a new deal in a matter of months.
Schweinsteiger remained with Chicago until 2019 when he later announced retirement, but remains one of their finest players in the clubs history. The German scored eight MLS goals in 85 appearances from holding midfield, and Mourinho later admitted that he regretted how he had treated Schweinsteiger at United.
Money wasn't much of a concern for the German, who played for enjoyment after winning eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and a World Cup. But he still earned himself a bumper deal.
6. Steven Gerrard - $6.20m (£5.13m)
It was bizarre not seeing Steven Gerrard in a Liverpool shirt temporarily, as the former Reds captain signed for LA Galaxy back in 2015. An emotional Gerrard left Liverpool on an 18-month contract, as he became the Galaxy's designated star on a deal worth upwards of £9m in total.
There were shades of Beckham as Gerrard put on the iconic Galaxy shirt, but just like his days at Liverpool, he couldn't get over the line and secure a league title. Gerrard retired in the States after they were eliminated in the MLS Cup play-offs in 2016, and switched to management.
Roles at Liverpool, Rangers and Aston Villa followed, although Gerrard is now out of work. Gerrard was also joined by Ashley Cole while at the Galaxy.
5. Kaka – $6.66m (£5.45m)
Kaka was the last player to win the Ballon d'Or before the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo domination took over, scooping up the award in 2007. The former Madrid and AC Milan star became the face of Orlando City in 2014, as he agreed to become their first ever designated player.
At the time, he was the highest paid player in MLS history, and Kaka claimed it was always a 'dream' to play in the United States. Kaka was loaned to boyhood club Sao Paolo as part of the deal, due to Orlando not entering the league until 2015.
But he made an instant impact when returning to the States, as he scored on his debut in a 4-0 friendly win. He then went one better and scored a free-kick on his MLS debut, and went on to score 23 more goals in the league before retiring in 2017.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – $7.2million (£5.95m)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic certainly left his mark on MLS during his 18-month stint, as his entire stay was pure entertainment. His arrival was announced with a full-page advert in the LA Times, and he scored one of the most iconic MLS goals on his debut.
A 45-yard effort off the bench against LAFC announced Ibrahimovic to the United States, and following the game he said: "I heard the crowd saying 'We want Zlatan, we want Zlatan', so I gave them Zlatan." The crowd cheered his name for another 52 goals, as he finished with a staggering record.
53 goals in 58 MLS games remains the best goalscoring ratio in league history, and Ibrahimovic then returned to AC Milan. He announced his departure on Twitter, posting: "You wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome. The story continues...Now go back to watch baseball"
3. Xherdan Shaqiri – $7.35million (£6.05m)
Xherdan Shaqiri temporarily became the highest MLS earner in 2022, when he arrived from Lyon after just half a season with the French side. Shaqiri asked to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2021, and the Premier League side agreed to grant his wish when Lyon came calling.
Shaqiri was signed for £6m and for high wages on a deal until 2024, a decision they quickly regretted. Two goals in 11 appearances led to Lyon frantically looking for a sale, and Chicago Fire decided to make him their designated player, bailing them out.
The Swiss international scored seven goals in 29 appearances last season, as he's began to adjust to the league. Shaqiri will remain with Chicago until 2024, unless they extend his deal.
2. Federico Bernardeschi - $9.25m (£7.65m)
Federico Bernardeschi joined fellow Italian Lorenzo Insigne in swapping Serie A for downtown Toronto, and he's fallen in love with MLS ever since. Eyebrows were raised in Italy when the 28-year-old departed Juventus, but Bernardeschi is grateful he took a chance.
"Jealousy is an ugly beast, whoever attacks me (for going to Toronto) wants to be here with me," he told Il Foglio. "You can’t even imagine how many colleagues from Serie A have called me because they want to come play here, and I’m talking about top level players."
The Italian signed as a designated player on a four-year contract in 2022, and scored eight times in his first 13 MLS matches. He's formed quite the partnership with Insigne, who became the highest MLS earner of all-time.
1. Lorenzo Insigne - $12.4m (£9.9m)
Insigne's stint as highest earner may be over in less than a year, following the news that Messi may be heading to Miami. There were eyebrows raised by Bernardeschi's decision to leave, but some fans were stunned that Insigne left Napoli.
The Italian was still a major part of the Napoli side, one that is currently pushing for the Serie A title. Insigne was also part of the squad that won the European Championships with Italy in 2021, but the winger decided not to sign a new deal with Napoli.
An offer was on the table, but Insigne snubbed it for a much larger deal in Toronto. Insigne is picking up close to £10m a year, and is tipped for a huge season in 2023.
