Lionel Messi remains Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player for the fourth consecutive season, earning $28.3 million on his new contract with Inter Miami. The figure, released by the MLS Players Association, does not include additional revenue from Apple TV subscriptions or jersey sales through Adidas and Fanatics, yet still dwarfs all other players in the league.
Tottenham icon Son Heung-min ranks second with a $11.2 million salary at Los Angeles FC, while Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul rounds out the top three at $9.7 million. Only LAFC has another eight-figure earner in the league, highlighting Messi’s unmatched compensation level.
Miami’s wage bill is heavily concentrated on its top three earners, who account for 76.7% of the team’s total salary expenditure. In contrast, the Philadelphia Union has the lowest commitment to their highest-paid trio at 23.4%. The data also reveals that Sporting Kansas City ($12.4 million) and the Philadelphia Union ($11.7 million) have the lowest total roster wages in the league, despite both struggling on the field.
San Diego FC’s situation with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano illustrates the complexity of MLS roster management. The 30-year-old is guaranteed $9.3 million this season without playing a minute, after being benched for behavioral reasons. Sporting director Tyler Heaps publicly stated Lozano would not play for the club again, but the club has yet to resolve his exit, leaving them in a difficult negotiating position.
New arrivals across the league have also made significant salaries. Thomas Müller’s full $5.2 million salary with Chicago Fire was revealed for the first time, while Timo Werner leads San Jose at $4.3 million. Josh Sargent returns to North America with a $5.3 million salary at Toronto FC. Other notable newcomers include Facundo Torres ($4.4 million at Austin), Germán Berterame ($3.8 million at Miami), and Mateusz Bogusz ($2.5 million at Houston).
Paul Rothrock secured a significant raise after free agency, moving from $105,000 to $525,000 at Seattle. James Rodríguez, on a half-year deal with Minnesota, checks in at an annualized salary of $684,000, making him the ninth top earner at the mid-market club.
The MLS Players Association also released data showing the league’s median salary by team. LAFC boasts the highest median salary, while teams like Sporting KC and Philadelphia have low medians, indicating room for growth pending ownership investment. Budget-minded teams can assemble a competitive XI for just over $2 million annually, with many young players on low wages establishing themselves as starters.
Spending changes from fall 2025 to spring 2026 show San Jose Earthquakes leading with a 42.6% increase, while Sporting Kansas City saw the biggest decrease at 29.8%. Overall, MLS clubs continue to navigate the balance between star power and squad depth as the league evolves.