MLS salaries: Lionel Messi top earner - Inter Miami CF ahead of Toronto FC

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Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer history, with an annual guaranteed compensation of $20.5 million. The figure was revealed as part of the MLSPA salary guide, which was published on Wednesday. The list includes all players under contract as of September 15. 

While the annual guaranteed compensation includes marketing bonuses and any agent fees, it doesn’t include performance bonuses as there is no guarantee that the player will hit those bonuses. With that in mind, Messi’s salary is likely considerably higher than what has been revealed by the MLSPA. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, in fact, told El País that Messi’s salary, which includes a cut from the Apple TV deal, was in the $50-60m range. Messi has also reportedly signed sponsorship deals with Fanatics and Adidas, which are not listed as part of the guaranteed compensation. 

Market Value

L. Messi Right Winger

€35.00m

Messi’s salary also means that Inter Miami CF now lead the league in guaranteed compensation. According to The Athletic, the Beckham-owned club now ranks first with $39.4m in salary, ahead of previous leaders Toronto FC ($32.3m) and the Los Angeles Galaxy ($25m). The top five are rounded out with LAFC ($20.8m) and the Chicago Fire ($20.4m). Of those five clubs, only Los Angeles FC are guaranteed to reach the playoffs with one match remaining in the regular season. 

MLSPA salary guide: Toronto FC miss playoffs despite top earners 

Despite significant additions, Inter Miami CF were always hard-pressed to reach the playoffs even after Messi’s arrival. Miami were firmly in last place in the Eastern Conference and have at least jumped Toronto FC in the standings. Furthermore, Messi also scored ten goals in seven Leagues Cup games, which qualified Inter Miami for next season's Concacaf Champions Cup. 

At TFC, Lorenzo Insigne is the second highest-paid player in the league with a guaranteed compensation of $15.4m, and Federico Bernardeschi ranks fifth with a guaranteed compensation of $6.3m. Insigne has scored four goals and four assists in 19 MLS games, and Bernardeschi has scored five goals and two assists in 30 MLS games. It remains to be seen whether either player will have a future under new head coach John Herdman. 

While the top spenders apart from LAFC have struggled, two teams outside the top 10 have dominated their respective Conferences. In the Western Conference, St. Louis CITY SC are set to finish first despite spending just $11.1m on player salaries—the third lowest in the league. FC Cincinnati, in the meantime, have not only finished first in the Eastern Conference but also won the Supporters’ Shield awarded to the team, finishing first overall across both conferences despite spending just $13.4m on salary—the ninth lowest in the league.