The arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami marks an exciting new phase in his remarkable career, as the 2022 World Cup champion aims to achieve success in the United States for the first time.
Messi made an impressive debut with Inter Miami, significantly contributing to the team’s victory in the 2023 Leagues Cup, their inaugural trophy. However, injuries and fatigue impacted his performance, leading the 36-year-old to miss important matches as Inter Miami fell short of qualifying for the playoffs.
Despite these challenges, his exceptional skills on the field were evident, and he played a major role in ensuring a solid start for Inter Miami in 2024. Even during his absence due to mid-season injuries, the team managed to secure the Supporters’ Shield and entered the playoffs as strong contenders for the title.
Naturally, acquiring a player of Messi’s caliber comes at a high cost. Data published in May 2025 by The Athletic and New York Times indicates that his salary exceeds the total guarantees of 21 MLS teams combined.
With the regular release of Major League Soccer compensation data, Messi’s base salary at Inter Miami has been made public.
Lionel Messi’s Earnings and Contract at Inter Miami
Messi agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami in 2023, set to end after the 2025 season, with a reported option for an additional year.
According to the 2025 MLS salary guide, published in late June, Messi’s base salary stands at $12 million, contributing to a total guaranteed compensation of over $20.4 million — specifically $20,446,667.
These amounts make him the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer by a considerable margin, consistent with his pay from the previous season.
The player with the next highest earnings is Lorenzo Insigne from Toronto FC, who earns a base salary of $7.5 million and a total guaranteed compensation of $15.4 million, far below Messi’s figures. Other players like Sergio Busquets from Inter Miami ($8.8 million) and Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United ($7.9 million) also do not reach the $9 million mark in guaranteed compensation.
It’s no surprise that Inter Miami leads the league in wage expenditure, with the team’s total guaranteed salaries reaching $46.8 million — an increase of $16 million from the previous year. In contrast, Montreal has the lowest payroll at $12 million, marking the second consecutive season as the league’s lowest spender.
In addition to his salary, Messi reportedly secured an ownership stake in the club, and ongoing discussions regarding advertising and image rights with companies such as Apple and Adidas are in progress. As reported by Miami Herald in June 2023, if all aspects of the deal are considered, its total value ranges from $125 million to $150 million (£100m-£120m), translating to approximately $4.1 million to $5 million (£3.3 million-£4 million) monthly.
The salary database Capology estimates that his total compensation amounts to $54 million annually, leading to a three-year grand total of $162 million.
Lionel Messi’s Position Among the Highest-Paid Athletes
Considering the details of Messi’s agreement, he has experienced a significant cut from his Paris Saint-Germain earnings but still exceeds the majority of his European counterparts.
In contrast to players moving to Saudi Arabia, Messi’s earnings have decreased considerably, and his ranking is likely to drop further as more athletes join the ranks alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
As reported by Forbes, Ronaldo is the top-paid athlete of 2025 with earnings totaling $275 million, marking his second consecutive year at the top. Messi holds the second position with $135 million, with his $60 million salary likely encompassing income from sources beyond just MLS.
Player | Club | Estimated Annual Salary | Estimated Total Income | |
1. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | $225m | $275m |
2. | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $60m | $135m |
3. | Karim Benzema | Al Ittihad | $100m | $104m |
4. | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | $70m | $90m |
5. | Neymar | Santos | $46m | $76m |
6. | Erling Haaland | Man City | $48m | $62m |
Is Lionel Messi Justified in His Earnings?
Despite his significant financial demands, Lionel Messi has proven to be deserving of the investment, consistently elevating Inter Miami to new heights.
In his debut season, he guided the club to its first trophy, clinching the 2023 Leagues Cup and securing a place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Then, in 2024, he led the league in goal contributions despite only participating in about half the games. His outstanding performance propelled Inter Miami to claim its first-ever Supporters’ Shield as the regular season champions and achieve its inaugural home playoff victory, defeating Atlanta United 2-1.
Can he guide the team to win their first MLS Cup title?