Lionel Messi continues to make waves in Major League Soccer (MLS) with his astonishing earnings, reportedly surpassing the total payrolls of 22 other teams in the league. According to the latest salary update from the Major League Soccer Players Association, Messi's annual base salary is set at $12 million, while his total compensation from Inter Miami amounts to $20.4 million. These figures have remained unchanged since the initial report in May.
Messi's contract, which runs through the 2025 season, includes not only his salary but also marketing bonuses and agent fees. Additionally, Messi benefits from a share of the league's deal with Apple TV, which is estimated to provide him with around $50 million.
Inter Miami, Messi's team, led the league with a record payroll of $41.7 million, significantly higher than all other teams. This figure is nearly double that of the second-highest payroll, held by Toronto FC at $31.8 million. Other notable payrolls include Los Angeles FC at $22.1 million, LA Galaxy at $22 million, and Nashville SC at $21.9 million. Notably, the combined salaries of players from Cincinnati ($21 million) and Houston Dynamo ($20.5 million) also exceeded Messi’s individual earnings. On the lower end, teams like Montreal ($11.4 million), Philadelphia Union ($13.8 million), and Colorado Rapids ($14.4 million) had significantly smaller payrolls.
Messi's teammate Sergio Busquets ranks second in the league with a salary of $8.5 million, translating to a total compensation of $8.8 million. Toronto's winger Lorenzo Insigne follows with a $7.5 million salary and $15.4 million in total compensation.
Even players who have not taken the field recently are still earning substantial salaries. Former New England Revolution forward Jozy Altidore is listed as an MLS pool player with a salary of $1.7 million and total compensation of $2.2 million. Former U.S. Men's National Team captain Michael Bradley, who last played in the league in 2023, remains on the payroll as a retired player, receiving $725,000 in total compensation.
Overall, the average salary in MLS has increased by 9.7% over the past year, with the median guaranteed salary now at $308,375. This rise reflects the growing financial investment in the league and its players, further amplified by the star power of players like Messi.
No comments:
Post a Comment