Lionel Messi tops MLS salary list ahead of Lorenzo Insigne and Sergio Busquets with Inter Miami payroll now biggest in league history

The Inter Miami and Argentina superstar rakes in $20.45 million (£25.8m) in total guaranteed compensation per year, according to data released by the MLS Players Association.Messi's team-mate Sergio Busquets is third on the list with a salary of $8.77m (£6.9m), behind Toronto forward Lorenzo Insigne in second with guaranteed compensation of $15.44m (£12m). Busquets and Messi account for a whopping 70% of Inter Miami's total wage bill, a bill which is an MLS record. Fellow foreign stars Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are said to be on $1.5m (£1.1m) apiece, a very low total compared to their previous deals in Europe.

Inter Miami's current wage bill reportedly stands at $41.7m (£32m), which is more than double that of every team in MLS bar Toronto FC ($31.4m/£24.7m), Chicago Fire ($25.1m/£19.8m) and Nashville SC ($21.4m/£16.8m). Amazingly, MLS Cup holders Columbus Crew rank 21st with a payroll of just $15.19m (£11.9m).

Messi's above number does not include all his other endorsements, such as the mega-money deals with Adidas, Fanatics, Apple and other MLS partners. If you include his equity stake in Inter Miami, the 36-year-old's two-and-a-half year deal in Florida is worth around $125-150m (£98m-11m).

Messi has been on fire in Miami this season, scoring nine goals and tallying 10 assists in MLS action. However, he will soon leave a gaping hole in the Herons' attack when he joins up with Argentina for the Copa America, beginning with a warm-up friendly against Ecuador on June 9.