Lionel Messi’s new contract with Inter Miami has dramatically reshaped the financial landscape of Major League Soccer, doubling his base salary to $25 million and bringing his total guaranteed compensation to $28 million. That figure places him far ahead of the league’s second-highest earner, Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, who makes roughly half of that total. The massive payday underscores how Inter Miami and the league as a whole are betting on the Argentine superstar to continue driving attendance, merchandise sales, and global attention well beyond his first season in South Florida.
Messi’s compensation package is the richest in MLS history and comes as no surprise given his transformative impact since arriving last year. The reigning World Cup winner not only boosted Miami’s on-field performance but also shattered league attendance records and elevated the profile of American soccer on an international stage. His previous contract, which already made him the league’s highest-paid player, was modest in comparison to this new deal, which locks in his status as the undisputed financial anchor of the entire competition.
While the gap between Messi and the rest of the league’s top earners is now even wider, his presence continues to attract other global stars and generate unprecedented revenue for MLS. The league has not commented on whether this deal sets a new precedent for future superstar signings, but for now, the clear message is that Messi’s value to Inter Miami and Major League Soccer is considered unmatched. With total compensation approaching $30 million, he remains not just a generational talent on the pitch but an economic powerhouse off it.