US EditionMessi Leads MLS Earners Ahead of South Korea's Son
Son Heung-Min earns $11.2 million as the second highest MLS salary behind Messi's $20.4 million, with median base pay rising 9.7% under the current collective bargaining agreement.
- According to the MLS Players Association on Wednesday, LAFC's Son Heung-Min and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi are the only two MLS players earning over $10 million as of Oct. 1, 2025.
- LAFC ranked second in team payroll at $30.1 million, trailing Inter Miami which increased spending to a record $48.97 million after Rodrigo DePaul's midseason arrival.
- Son's contract runs through 2027 with options to 2029, the MLS salary figures were annualized for summer transfer window arrivals, and top earners include Sergio Busquets at $8.8 million, Miguel Almirón $6.1 million and Hirving Lozano $6 million.
- Under the current CBA through 2027, the MLS Players Association said the average guaranteed base compensation rose to $632,809, up 6.1%, and median increased to $338,347, up 9.7.
- Toronto FC's outlay fell to $13.65 million after midseason departures of Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, while Inter Miami spends more than double 27 of the league's remaining 29 teams.
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42 Articles
Lionel Messi leads MLS earners ahead of Son Heung-min
Inter Miami’s eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid footballer in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC’s recent arrival Son Heung-min second, according to an updated salary list published on Wednesday.
Superstar Lionel Messi is still the highest-paid player in the MLS, with a guaranteed annual salary of just over SEK 191 million. Sweden's Emil Forsberg is sixth on the salary list with around SEK 56.5 million.
InsideNoVA.com
Messi leads MLS earners ahead of South Korea's Son
Inter Miami's eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid footballer in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC's recent arrival Son Heung-min second, according to an updated salary list published on Wednesday.
Messi Leads MLS Earners Ahead Of South Korea's Son
Inter Miami's eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid footballer in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC's recent arrival Son Heung-min second, according to an updated salary list published on Wednesday.
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