MLS 2026 player salaries revealed: Messi, Miami tops again; Best buys and new signings

The MLS Players Association released 2026 salary figures on Tuesday, revealing that Lionel Messi remains the league's highest-paid player at $28.33 million in guaranteed compensation, a figure that excludes his ownership stake and other incentives that Miami owner Jorge Mas claims brings his total to between $70–$80 million annually. Messi's guaranteed salary alone exceeds the entire wage bill of every MLS club except LAFC. The data provides the first detailed look at earnings for new signings and spending levels across all 30 clubs in the salary-capped league.