Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami) has retained his position as the highest-paid athlete in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the 2025 season.
According to the 2025 player salary report released by the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) on the 25th (local time), Messi earned a total of $20,446,667 (approximately 27.8 billion won), making him the highest-paid player in the MLS for the third consecutive year as of May 23.
His base salary is $12 million, with the remainder including marketing bonuses and agent fees. However, additional contracts with the team or incentives based on performance are not included.
Notably, Messi receives more than the total aggregates of 21 out of 30 teams in MLS. The average base salary for MLS players is $649,120, an increase of 9.2% compared to the figure of $594,389 announced in May last year.
Inter Miami, where Messi is signed, has a total salary of $46,840,000, marking the highest level in the league. This shows a large gap compared to the second-place Toronto FC ($34,150,000). Miami’s total salary has increased by more than $5 million compared to last season.
Other players in the top salary ranks include Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC, $15,400,000) and Sergio Busquets (Miami, $8,770,000).
According to the Associated Press, there are 11 players in MLS earning over $5 million annually, which is an increase of six compared to the start of last season. The total aggregates of salaries for all 902 contracted MLS players stands at $586,000,000, an increase of 12.9% compared to early last year ($519,000,000).