Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer after his second contract with Inter Miami was revealed in the latest MLS Players Association salary release, with the Argentine superstar earning a base salary of $20.4 million and a guaranteed compensation of $22.9 million for the 2026 season. His Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets ranks second at just over $9.5 million guaranteed, while LAFC’s Olivier Giroud debuts at more than $5.8 million guaranteed, making him the third-highest earner in the league. The salary data underscores the financial chasm between these marquee Designated Players and the rest of the league, with Messi alone earning more than the entire payrolls of several clubs.
The release also provides first-time numbers for several high-profile January arrivals, including former Manchester United star Marcus Rashford at Aston Villa, whose guaranteed compensation exceeds $9 million. Other notable newcomers include ex-Real Madrid midfielder Isco, who joined Chicago Fire on a deal worth roughly $4.2 million guaranteed, and Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec, now with LA Galaxy. The figures confirm that the league’s top earners remain heavily concentrated among a handful of teams, with Inter Miami and LAFC leading the salary charts, while the majority of MLS clubs operate with significantly lower payrolls.
While Messi’s astronomical wages dominate the headlines, the data also reveals a growing trend of investment in foreign talent, particularly from European leagues. However, the league’s salary structure continues to create a clear divide between the elite Designated Players and the average MLS squad member, whose median base salary hovers around $400,000. This latest release reinforces the league’s dual reality: superstars drive global attention and attendance, but the competitive gap between the top spenders and the rest remains as stark as ever.