MIAMI: Lionel Messi’s staggering $20.45 million yearly salary with Inter Miami not only makes him the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer but also surpasses the entire payrolls of 25 other clubs in the league, according to data released by the MLS Players Association.
This substantial compensation, composed of a $12 million base salary plus bonuses, reflects Messi’s unparalleled status in the football world. Although these figures don’t include his substantial earnings from endorsements and commercial deals, Messi’s influence extends far beyond the field.
Despite his immense income, Messi’s salary pales in comparison to top earners in other American sports leagues, such as NFL quarterback Joe Burrow and NBA star Stephen Curry. Yet, within the MLS, Messi’s arrival heralds a new era of financial possibility, enabled by mechanisms like the ‘Designated Player’ rule, which have transformed the league’s economic landscape since David Beckham’s landmark signing in 2007.
