The MLS Players Association has released its 2026 salary information, with Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi by far the league’s highest-paid player.
According to data revealed by the MLSPA, Messi will receive guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million in 2026.
That figure is nearly three times the league’s second-highest earner, LAFC forward Son Heung-min, who will bring in $11.2 million this year. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate with Inter Miami and Argentina, is third with a $9.7 million salary.
San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano is next at $9.3 million. The Mexican forward is earning that figure for doing very little as he continues to be frozen out by the team. Rounding out the top five is Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón at $7.9 million.
March 22: San Diego FC’s Marcus Ingvartsen celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC and RSL played to a 2-2 draw.
March 21: St. Louis City’s Simon Becher (11) tackles the ball away from the New England Revolutio’ns Matt Polster at Energizer Park. St. Louis City won the match, 3-1.
March 21: Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crapeau (71) blocks the header by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge during the first half at Geodis Park. Nashville SC won the match, 5-0.
March 21: Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran makes a play on the ball in front of Columbus Crew forward Jamal Thiaré (during the second half at BMO Field. TFC won the match, 2-1.
March 15: The Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathías Laborda (2) scores against the Minnesota United en route to a 6-0 rout of Minnesota at BC Place.
March 14: San Diego FC’s Jeppe Tverskov (6) heads the ball during the second half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
March 7: A tifo is seen before the game between the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
March 1: Inter Miami’s German Berterame controls the ball against Orlando City during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Inter Miami won the game, 4-2.
Feb. 28: Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga and the Houston Dynamo’s Antonio Carlos (left) compete for possession during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. LAFC won the match, 2-0.
Feb. 28: The Chicago Fire’s Jonathan Dean (24) and CF Montrea’s Hennadii Synchuk battle for control of the ball during the second half at Soldier Field. Chicago won the match, 3-0.
Feb. 22: The Seattle Sounders’ Paul Rothrock celebrates after scoring a goal against the Colorado Rapids at Lumen Field. Seattle won the match, 2-0.
Feb. 21: FC Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela (center) has his shot blocked by Atlanta United’s Elias Baez(left) during the first half at TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati won the match, 2-0.
Feb. 21: Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) reaches for the ball against Real Salt Lake during the second half at BC Place. Vancouver won the match, 1-0.
Feb. 21: Fans watch during the national anthem before the game between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami CF at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. LAFC won the game, 3-0, knocking off the defending MLS champs.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 22: San Diego FC’s Marcus Ingvartsen celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC and RSL played to a 2-2 draw.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 22: San Diego FC’s Marcus Ingvartsen celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC and RSL played to a 2-2 draw.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 21: St. Louis City’s Simon Becher (11) tackles the ball away from the New England Revolutio’ns Matt Polster at Energizer Park. St. Louis City won the match, 3-1.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 21: Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crapeau (71) blocks the header by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge during the first half at Geodis Park. Nashville SC won the match, 5-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 21: Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran makes a play on the ball in front of Columbus Crew forward Jamal Thiaré (during the second half at BMO Field. TFC won the match, 2-1.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 15: The Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathías Laborda (2) scores against the Minnesota United en route to a 6-0 rout of Minnesota at BC Place.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 14: San Diego FC’s Jeppe Tverskov (6) heads the ball during the second half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 7: A tifo is seen before the game between the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 1: Inter Miami’s German Berterame controls the ball against Orlando City during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Inter Miami won the game, 4-2.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 28: Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga and the Houston Dynamo’s Antonio Carlos (left) compete for possession during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. LAFC won the match, 2-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 28: The Chicago Fire’s Jonathan Dean (24) and CF Montrea’s Hennadii Synchuk battle for control of the ball during the second half at Soldier Field. Chicago won the match, 3-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 22: The Seattle Sounders’ Paul Rothrock celebrates after scoring a goal against the Colorado Rapids at Lumen Field. Seattle won the match, 2-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 21: FC Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela (center) has his shot blocked by Atlanta United’s Elias Baez(left) during the first half at TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati won the match, 2-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 21: Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) reaches for the ball against Real Salt Lake during the second half at BC Place. Vancouver won the match, 1-0.
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MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
Feb. 21: Fans watch during the national anthem before the game between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami CF at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. LAFC won the game, 3-0, knocking off the defending MLS champs.
Messi’s salary is also just a fraction of what he is actually earning. The Argentine also has an ownership share in Inter Miami included in his contract. In March, Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas revealed he pays Messi around $70-80 million per year.
The 38-year-old also has separate deals with both Fanatics and Apple that see him compensated for league merchandise sales as well as streaming subscriptions.
Last year, Messi led Inter Miami to the MLS Cup title and became the first MLS player to win back-to-back league MVP awards.
Highest-paid MLS players for 2026
*Guaranteed compensation
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami – $28,333,333
Son Heung-min, LAFC – $11,152,852
Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Miami – $9,688,320
Hirving Lozano, San Diego – $9,333,333
Miguel Almirón, Atlanta – $7,871,000
Emil Forsberg, New York Red Bulls – $6,035,625
Sam Surridge, Nashville – $5,933,000
Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy – $5,792,188
Jonathan Bamba, Chicago – $5,581,806
Hany Mukhtar, Nashville – $5,411,667
Josh Sargent, Toronto – $5,265,667
Thomas Müller, Vancouver – $5,152,504
Aleksey Miranchuk, Atlanta – $5,085,441
Carles Gil, New England – $4,952,083
Denis Bouanga, LAFC – $4,939,217
Evander, Cincinnati – $4,736,411
Joseph Paintsil, LA Galaxy – $4,502,000
Facundo Torres, Austin – $4,405,000
Timo Werner, San Jose – $4,268,039
Miles Robinson, Cincinnati – $3,950,000
Germán Berterame, Miami – $3,824,200
Kévin Denkey, Cincinnati – $3,810,000
Emmanuel Latte Lath, Atlanta – $3,736,000
Brandon Vazquez, Austin – $3,701,778
Ryan Gauld, Vancouver – $3,675,000
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City
Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico
Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico
BMO Field – Toronto
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California
BC Place – Vancouver, Canada
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
Lumen Field – Seattle
NRG Stadium – Houston
Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, California
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia
Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
BMO Field – Toronto
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
BC Place – Vancouver, Canada
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Lumen Field – Seattle
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
NRG Stadium – Houston
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, California
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia
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What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16
Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS highest paid players 2026: Lionel Messi tops salary rankings
