Lionel Messi’s MLS pay climbs again as Inter Miami star widens gap atop salary rankings

Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, with the MLS Players Association confirming on Tuesday that he will receive guaranteed compensation of $28.333 million in the 2026 season — a 39 percent increase over his 2025 package of $20.446 million. His base salary rose from $12 million to $25 million following his re-signing with Inter Miami in October. The Argentine superstar continues to widen the gap atop MLS salary rankings by a substantial margin.