When you think about American soccer right now, your mind probably jumps straight to pink jerseys and sold-out stadiums in Fort Lauderdale. It’s no secret that the league has entered a totally different stratosphere lately. Honestly, if you took a time machine back five years and told a fan that the highest paid player in the MLS would be making more than the entire payroll of several other teams combined, they’d probably think you were dreaming. But here we are in 2026, and the financial gap between the elite stars and the rest of the pack has never been wider.
It’s huge.
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Lionel Messi isn’t just a player; he's a walking economy. According to the latest figures from the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), Messi remains the undisputed king of the hill with a guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. That’s the base salary plus all those signing bonuses and marketing fees baked into the contract. It's a massive number, but even that doesn't tell the full story. If you factor in his massive side deals with Apple and Adidas, some experts suggest his actual take-home pay is closer to $60 million or more.
The Heung-min Son Era and the New Eight-Figure Club
For a long time, it was just Messi in that stratosphere. Then LAFC went and did something bold. By bringing in South Korean icon Heung-min Son, they didn't just get a world-class winger; they created a new rival for the title of the league's biggest earner. Son is currently the only other player in the league pulling in an eight-figure salary, with a guaranteed compensation of roughly $11,152,852.
It’s a fascinating shift in how MLS teams are thinking about "Designated Players." In the past, you might see a team spend $5 million on a fading European star. Now, they are dropping $11 million on players who are still absolute monsters on the pitch. Son’s arrival in Los Angeles has basically reset the market for what a top-tier DP should cost.
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Behind these two, the drop-off is noticeable but the numbers are still eye-watering for the average person. Messi's teammate Sergio Busquets sits comfortably in the third spot, bringing home about $8,774,996. It's kind of wild to realize that Inter Miami has three players in the top ten highest earners if you count Jordi Alba’s $6 million deal.
Breaking Down the Top Earners (2025-2026 Season)
Looking at the top ten is like looking at a "Who's Who" of global football. Miguel Almirón made a massive return to Atlanta United and immediately jumped into the fourth spot with a compensation package of $7,871,000. Then you have Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, who joined San Diego FC for their debut seasons. He’s netting $7,633,333 annually.
The rest of the leaderboard looks like this:
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- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): $20.45 million
- Heung-min Son (LAFC): $11.15 million
- Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami): $8.77 million
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United): $7.87 million
- Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC): $7.63 million
- Emil Forsberg (NY Red Bulls): $6.04 million
- Jordi Alba (Inter Miami): $6.00 million
- Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy): $5.78 million
- Jonathan Bamba (Chicago Fire): $5.58 million
- Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC): $5.31 million
Why One Player Costs More Than a Whole Team
Here is the really crazy part. Messi’s individual compensation is actually higher than the total guaranteed payroll of several MLS clubs. Look at teams like CF Montréal or the Philadelphia Union. Their entire rosters—every single player from the captain to the third-string goalkeeper—often cost less than what Inter Miami pays Messi alone.
This creates a "Haves vs. Have-Nots" dynamic that is sort of unique to American soccer. Most US sports use a hard salary cap to keep things equal. MLS uses a "soft cap" with loopholes big enough to drive a Ferrari through. These loopholes are the Designated Player (DP) rule and the new "U22 Initiative."
Basically, the league allows teams to have three players whose salaries don't fully count against the cap. That’s how Inter Miami can spend nearly $50 million on their total payroll while a team like Montreal might spend around $12 million. It’s an arms race, and the clubs with the deepest pockets are clearly winning.
The "Messi Effect" on the 2026 World Cup Prep
You can't talk about the highest paid player in the MLS without talking about the 2026 World Cup. With the tournament being hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico, the league has used these massive salaries as a lure. They want the faces of the league to be the faces of the tournament.
Take Thomas Müller, for example. He joined the Vancouver Whitecaps recently. While his current salary is around $1.44 million, it's widely known that he's set to become a full Designated Player with a massive raise in 2026. The league is positioning itself to be a retirement home no longer, but a legitimate destination for stars who want to be in the spotlight during the biggest sporting event on earth.
Realities of the "Average" MLS Salary
Don’t let the $20 million numbers fool you into thinking every soccer player in America is living in a mansion. The floor is much lower. The senior minimum salary in MLS is actually only **$104,000**.
If you are a reserve player, it’s even lower—$80,622.
Think about that gap. Messi makes roughly 250 times more than his teammate who might be sitting on the end of the bench. It’s a staggering level of income inequality within a single locker room. Most fans only see the glitz of the DP signings, but the league is actually built on the backs of guys making low six-figures who are just trying to keep their spots on the roster.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Fan
If you're following the league's finances, here is what you actually need to watch over the next twelve months to see where the money is going:
- Watch the TAM/GAM changes: The league is slowly phasing out Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in favor of more flexibility. This means more teams might be able to afford $2-3 million players without them needing to be "stars."
- Keep an eye on the 2026 "World Cup Bump": Expect more signings like Heung-min Son. Corporate sponsors are desperate to attach their names to international stars before the World Cup kicks off.
- Track Inter Miami’s "post-Messi" plan: Messi’s contract extension runs through 2028. How the league handles his eventual departure—or his next raise—will dictate the entire financial structure of the MLS for the next decade.
The era of the $20 million player is just the beginning. As the league continues to grow its partnership with Apple TV and eyes the massive revenue from the 2026 World Cup, the title of the highest paid player in the MLS will likely carry an even bigger price tag very soon.