Full Breakdown
Lionel Messi's $28.3 Million MLS Salary Highlights 2026 Wage Gap
5/13/2026, 11:58:53 AM
Background & Context
The 2026 salary data were released by the MLS Players Association under the league’s sixth-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which runs through 2027 and governs the salary-cap structure. Median player compensation rose to $352,104 (up roughly 4%), while the average guaranteed compensation reached $688,816, a 6% increase. Total league guaranteed compensation totals $631 million, and 133 players now earn at least $1 million. Messi’s contract also contains a special revenue-sharing arrangement with Apple, MLS’s media-rights partner.
Messi's Record Salary and the 2026 MLS Wage Landscape
The MLS Players Association reports Lionel Messi will earn $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation for 2026, with a $25 million base. This is more than double LAFC’s Son Heung-min, who receives $11.1 million guaranteed. Inter Miami’s payroll is $54.6 million, far above LAFC’s $32.7 million and the league low of $11.7 million (Philadelphia Union).
Principal Players and Stakeholders
Key figures include Messi, Son Heung-min, Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul ($9.7 million guaranteed) and San Diego FC winger Hirving Lozano ($9.3 million guaranteed). Data come from the MLS Players Association; Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has spoken about Messi’s total earnings, and Apple participates in a revenue-sharing deal.
Salary Figures and Team Payrolls
- Messi: $25 million base; $28.33 million guaranteed.
- Son Heung-min: $10.37 million base; $11.15 million guaranteed.
- De Paul: $7.57 million base; $9.69 million guaranteed.
- League guaranteed compensation: $631 million.
- Average per player: $688,816; median $352,104 (up ~4%).
- 133 players earn $1 million+ (up from 131).
Inter Miami’s $54.57 million outlay exceeds the payroll of 28 of the 30 clubs.
Official Comments from Inter Miami and the MLS Players Association
Jorge Mas told Bloomberg that Messi’s total income ranges from $70 million to $80 million per year after accounting for sponsorships and the Apple revenue-sharing deal. The MLS Players Association clarified that the released figures cover only the playing portion of contracts and omit performance bonuses, endorsements and equity stakes.
Criticism Over Salary Disparities and Off-Field Impact
Bleacher Report described Messi’s off-field impact as “a mixed bag,” noting that his presence has not made MLS’s Apple TV Season Pass financially viable. The Guardian pointed to San Diego FC’s $9.3 million deal for Lozano despite his lack of playing time, calling the situation a negotiating faux pas. The gap between Messi’s earnings and low-payroll clubs fuels debate over competitive balance.
Conflicting Numbers and Unaccounted Earnings
Sources list Messi’s guaranteed compensation as $28.3 million, $28.33 million or $28,333,333, and total league compensation as $631 million (AP) versus an average of $688,816 (MLSPA). All releases exclude endorsement income, Apple TV revenue shares and potential equity stakes, leaving the full financial picture unclear.
Implications for MLS Growth and Competitive Balance
The concentration of spending in Inter Miami—where one salary rivals the payroll of most clubs—highlights a widening wage gap. Messi’s profile may raise MLS’s global profile, but the disparity could strain league-wide financial sustainability and affect parity in future drafts and roster building.
What’s Next
The MLS Players Association will release a second salary report later in 2026, and the current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2027, opening the possibility of revising salary caps and revenue-sharing rules.
