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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Argentine chasing the American dream</li><li>Moved to the States as a free agent</li><li>Salary topped up by profit share deals</li></ul>This page contains affiliate links. When you subscribe through the links provided, we may earn a commission.<a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Sign up here for MLS Season Pass through Apple TV and watch every MLS match, including Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami!</a><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Revealed: Lionel Messi earning more at Inter Miami than entire payroll of 25 MLS clubs – with only four teams boasting a higher total financial package

Major League Soccer

Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami CF

Friendlies

Colombia

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/david-beckham-explains-why-inter-miami-signed-lionel-messi-transfer-million-messages/blt2b5678fd0dc2cb12 " target="_blank">completed a stunning move to the United States</a> over the summer when becoming a free agent at Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester United and England legend David Beckham – who is now a co-owner in Florida – helped to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">put that deal in place after 10 years of work behind the scenes</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Messi has made an immediate impact in America, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/44-trophies-lionel-messi-all-time-record-very-good-hands-inter-miami-tata-martino-historic-leagues-cup/blt4c0a84c28d5bf241 " target="_blank">helping Inter Miami to a historic Leagues Cup triumph</a>, and ended the 2023 campaign with 11 goals through 14 appearances. He has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lionel-messi-no1-inter-miami-superstar-ranked-coolest-above-lebron-james-serena-williams-kim-kardashian/bltdca6f8797dda84cc" target="_blank">attracted A-list guests</a> to MLS and domestic cup fixtures, while <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watching-lionel-messi-more-expensive-cheapest-inter-miami-season-tickets-2024-82-per-cent-price-hike/blt7a0f48b7c5582749" target="_blank">ticket prices soar whenever he takes to the field</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi is helping to generate plenty of revenue, but he is also being handsomely rewarded financially. The <a href="https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide " target="_blank">2023 MLS players salary guide</a> has revealed that the all-time great earns a $12 million (£10m) base salary, with a guaranteed compensation of more than $20m (£16m) – making him the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lionel-messi-inter-miami-salary-highest-paid-mls-players-revealed-sergio-busquets-jordi-alba/blt1e12ade29f4176d1" target="_blank">highest-paid player in the league</a> – while he reportedly pulls in between $50m (£41m) and $60m (£49m) from <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-contract-wages-cristiano-ronaldo/blt11e2d05b108b1895" target="_blank">agreements with MLS and Apple TV</a>. In total, the 36-year-old is said to be earning around $135m (£110m), which dwarfs the payroll at rival outfits.

DID YOU KNOW?

As things stand, only four sides in MLS – Inter Miami, Toronto FC, LA Galaxy and LAFC – have total payrolls bigger than what Messi earns by himself. The World Cup winner has insisted that he did not move to the States for money, having also <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/explained-why-lionel-messi-didnt-follow-cristiano-ronaldo-saudi-arabia-sergio-aguero-inter-miami-transfer/blt8f025ee8649f73aa " target="_blank">received eye-watering offers from the Middle East</a>, and said upon his arrival in Florida: “My decision went through many things, we thought about it with my wife, my children were also part of the decision, the family in general. I just came to play and enjoy football, which is what I've liked all my life. I chose [Miami] for that, above all else, and I'm very happy with the decision we made.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Revealed: Lionel Messi earning more at Inter Miami than entire payroll of 25 MLS clubs – with only four teams boasting a higher total financial package | Goal.com India

Lionel Messi is earning more at Inter Miami than the entire payroll of 25 MLS clubs, with the full cost of acquiring the Argentine ace being revealed.

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