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

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner completed a stunning move to the United States 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 put that deal in place after 10 years of work behind the scenes.

Messi has made an immediate impact in America, helping Inter Miami to a historic Leagues Cup triumph, and ended the 2023 campaign with 11 goals through 14 appearances. He has attracted A-list guests to MLS and domestic cup fixtures, while ticket prices soar whenever he takes to the field.

Messi is helping to generate plenty of revenue, but he is also being handsomely rewarded financially. The 2023 MLS players salary guide 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 highest-paid player in the league – while he reportedly pulls in between $50m (£41m) and $60m (£49m) from agreements with MLS and Apple TV. In total, the 36-year-old is said to be earning around $135m (£110m), which dwarfs the payroll at rival outfits.

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 received eye-watering offers from the Middle East, 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.”