Messi receives "king" salary, higher than 21 clubs in MLS

(Dan Tri) - According to the latest data from the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), Messi has become the highest paid player in the league, more than the total salary budget of 21 clubs.

Recently, MLSPA has just announced the salary fund of the clubs competing in the US Major League Soccer (MLS). Among them, Messi is the player receiving the "king" salary of 20.45 million USD per year, far surpassing the rest of the tournament.

Notably, Messi alone receives a salary higher than the salary fund of 21/30 clubs in the highest league in the US.

Messi receives the highest salary in MLS (Photo: Reuters).

However, it should be added that this is only the fixed salary that Messi receives from Inter Miami. The Argentine player also earns tens of millions of dollars from a sponsorship contract with sports company Adidas as well as a share of profits from Apple, the unit that owns the television rights to MLS.

According to estimates by the American press, Messi could earn $150 million in two and a half years playing for Inter Miami.

Although this is the "king" income in the US, Messi still receives a salary far less than C. Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese striker earns up to 200 million euros (234 million USD) per year when playing for Al Nassr. This amount includes salary, bonuses as well as promoting the country of Saudi Arabia.

Top 10 highest paid players in MLS (Photo: The Sun).

The second highest earner in MLS is Toronto striker Lorenzo Insigne with $15.44 million per year, followed by Sergio Busquets (Messi's teammate at Inter Miami) with $8.5 million per year.

Inter Miami leads the league with a total payroll of $46.84 million, far outstripping the rest of the league. Following behind are Toronto FC ($34.15 million) and Atlanta United ($27.63 million).

MLSPA data also shows that the average MLS player salary is on the rise. The average MLS player earns $649,199, up about 9% from last year. There are now 131 players earning at least $1 million a year, up from 115 last year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/messi-nhan-muc-luong-ong-hoang-cao-hon-21-clb-o-giai-mls-20250626193715528.htm