Lionel Messi earning more money than entire payroll of 25 MLS clubs as full cost of his Inter Miami deal comes to light

Lionel Messi is reportedly earning more money at Inter Miami than the entire payroll of 25 clubs in the MLS.

The Argentina icon signed for Vice City this summer on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's arrival in Miami is expected to further boost the MLS' global reach.

The high-profile transfer is apparently seeing Messi pocket a record-breaking amount in income. As per the 2023 MLS players salary guide (h/t GOAL), he is earning a base salary of $12 million with a guaranteed compensation of around $20 million.

This makes Messi the highest-earning player on the list of MLS players, dwarfing the $7.5 million earned by second-placed Lorenzo Insigne as a base salary. Furthermore, the Barcelona superstar will earn about $50-60 million from his deals with the MLS and Apple.

This means that Lionel Messi is earning approximately $135 million at Inter Miami, which is more than the entire payroll of 25 MLS clubs. Only Toronto FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, and Messi's own club, Inter Miami, have a combined wage bill larger than the 36-year-old's salary.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has scored 11 times and laid out five assists in 14 games across competitions for his new club.

---

Lionel Messi 'proud' of Inter Miami's accomplishments this season

Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to Leagues Cup victory in August, helping the club win their first piece of silverware.

They also reached the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, where they lost 2-1 to Houston Dynamo in the final on 28 September. Messi, who helped his team beat Cincinnati in the semifinals by providing two assists, missed the final because of a muscle injury.

After Inter Miami's last game of the MLS regular season, the Argentine took to Instagram and captioned a series of photos from recent months:

"Proud of all the team accomplished this season. With the work and effort of everyone, we were able to win the @mls clinching the first title in @opencup history, we made it to the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. @leaguescup and we were even fighting to get into the @intermiamicf, Playoffs almost until the very last moment.

"We stayed with all the good things and above all the desire to improve to be even more competitive next year. I would like to thank all the people of the club and the city of Miami for the support they always give us. I'm sure we'll continue to have amazing moments together as we have in the past few months."

Inter Miami ended the MLS season with a 1-0 defeat against Charlotte, finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference table with 34 points from as many league games.