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The MLS Players Association published annualized salary figures for every player in the league for the first time in 2026, with Inter Miami's Lionel Messi retaining his status as the league's top earner for the third consecutive year, along with a substantial pay increase.
The salary data, unveiled on Tuesday, represents the first of two yearly disclosures by the MLSPA and reflects figures as of April 16, 2026. The league-wide average guaranteed compensation stands at $688,816.
Messi inked a three-year contract extension with the Herons running through the 2028 season last October, just prior to guiding the club to its inaugural MLS Cup championship. His base salary of $25 million, with guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million this season, represents a steep jump from the $12 million base and $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation he received the previous year, according to the MLSPA's October salary guide.
While the 37-year-old Argentine icon's official salary already places him far ahead of any other player in the U.S. top flight, his actual take-home pay is considerably higher. Inter Miami reportedly pays him between $70 and $80 million per year, according to club owner Jorge Mas, making the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion the second-highest paid footballer on the planet, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo's estimated $230 million on-field salary at Al Nassr.
Beyond his base salary, Messi also generates income through an MLS-linked deal with adidas and receives a portion of Apple TV's revenue sharing, among various other commercial ventures — all of which pushed his total annual earnings to approximately $135 million in 2025, a figure that has likely grown further this season given his salary bump and a wave of 2026 FIFA World Cup sponsorship deals.
A distant second behind Messi, LAFC's Son Heung-min ranks as the second-highest earner in MLS with a base salary of $10.3 million and guaranteed compensation of $11.1 million. Miami's Rodrigo De Paul comes in third, with a base salary of $7.5 million and guaranteed compensation of $9.6 million.
Below is a breakdown of the top 10 MLS salaries in 2026, featuring players from nine different clubs.
Top 10 Player Salaries in MLS as of April 16, 2026
Player | Club | Base Salary | Guaranteed Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $25,000,000 | $28,333,333 |
2. Son Heung-min | LAFC | $10,368,750 | $11,152,852 |
3. Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | $7,569,000 | $9,688,320 |
4. Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United | $6,056,000 | $7,871,000 |
5. Hirving Lozano | San Diego FC | $6,000,000 | $9,333,333 |
6. Emil Forsberg | New York Red Bulls | $5,405,000 | $6,035,625 |
7. Sam Surridge | Nashville SC | $5,280,000 | $5,933,000 |
8. Ricard Puig Martí | LA Galaxy | $5,125,000 | $5,792,188 |
9. Thomas Müller | Vancouver Whitecaps | $5,000,004 | $5,152,504 |
10. Jonathan Bamba | Chicago Fire FC | $5,000,000 | $5,581,806 |
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.