Inter Miami Dominate the Top 10 Highest-Spending MLS Clubs in Staggering Payroll Rankings

The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) published the annualized salaries of every player across Major League Soccer on Tuesday, the first of two such reports issued each season, and unsurprisingly, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi stood as the league's highest-paid player — and by a considerable margin. He has held that distinction for three consecutive seasons, dating back to his arrival in south Florida in 2023 when he joined Inter Miami.

What may have caught some off guard, however, was the substantial pay increase Messi received — not because it isn't warranted, but due to the staggering figures involved: a $25 million base salary and $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation. Despite being in the latter stages of his career, the 38-year-old guided Inter Miami to their inaugural MLS Cup last winter, establishing a historic postseason record with 15 goal contributions — six goals and nine assists. He also became the first player ever to claim back-to-back MLS MVP honors. The hefty salary is entirely justified.

Inter Miami don't reserve their big spending solely for Messi, however. They also invest heavily in fellow Argentine star Rodrigo De Paul, though his wages pale in comparison to what Messi commands. De Paul takes home a $7.5 million base salary with $9.6 million in guaranteed compensation this season, ranking third highest in the entire league. With two of the top three earners on their books, the Herons were inevitably the club with the priciest payroll, shelling out a staggering $54.6 million in guaranteed compensation — nearly half of which flows to one of the greatest footballers of all time.

LAFC rank second, though they trail Inter Miami by more than $20 million in total spending. The Western Conference club directs one-third of their $32.7 million guaranteed compensation bill toward South Korean forward Son Heung-min, who holds the second-largest salary in MLS — slotting between Messi and De Paul — with a $10.3 million base salary and $11.1 million in guaranteed compensation.

Inter Miami and LAFC are clearly the league's two biggest spenders by a wide margin, and the investment appears to be paying off. The Herons have thrived since Messi's arrival, capturing the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield before claiming the league title last season, while LAFC have been a dominant force in the Western Conference in recent years, making deep playoff runs and lifting the MLS Cup in 2022.

Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union carry the lightest payrolls this season at $12.4 million and $11.7 million in guaranteed compensation respectively — which may be among several factors explaining why both clubs currently find themselves at the foot of their respective conferences.

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Guaranteed compensation encompasses a player's base salary along with all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized across the duration of the player's contract, including option years, per the MLSPA.