(New York) Lionel Messi earned just over US$20.4 million ($28 million) with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer this season, the Players Association announced Wednesday.
Messi commanded a salary larger than the payroll of 26 of the 29 teams on the Garber circuit this season.
The 36-year-old Argentinian earned $12 million in base salary, which reached $20,446,667 when adding various eligible bonuses, the Players Association revealed in its September 2023 update.
This salary includes the amount Messi receives under his MLS contract, which expires after the 2025 campaign, as well as his marketing bonuses and his agent’s fees. It excludes all side agreements entered into with the team or its commercial partners, as well as its performance bonuses.
He is the highest-paid player in MLS, followed by Toronto FC attacking midfielder Lorenzo Insigne ($15.4 million), Chicago Fire midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri ($8.153 million) and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez (7.443 million). Rounding out the top 5 is Toronto FC’s other midfielder, Federico Bernardeschi (6.295 million).
CF Montreal’s highest paid player is defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, with a combined salary of 1.8 million.
Unsurprisingly, Inter Miami dominates the league with a payroll approaching 40 million. The Florida team is followed by Toronto FC at 32.3 million, the Galaxy at 25 million and LAFC at 20.8 million. CF Montreal’s payroll is close to 11 million.
Messi made three starts and five appearances in total in MLS with Inter Miami, totaling 283 minutes of play and one goal. He also contributed to his team’s League Cup victory, scoring 10 goals in seven games.
