Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer contract with Inter Miami carries an annual salary of just over $20.4 million in his first full season, which is more than all but three other teams in the league. This amount exceeds the team’s salary.
Announcing the first salaries for 2024 on Thursday, the MLS Players’ Association revealed that Messi joined Inter Miami last summer and earned a base salary of $10.4 million and an annual salary of $20,446,667.
This figure includes what Messi receives through his MLS contract, which runs until the 2025 season, including marketing bonuses and agent fees. Additional contracts or performance bonuses with teams or affiliates are not considered.
Messi, who turns 37 next month, has scored 10 goals this season, leaving him one behind the MLS leader.
Miami leads the league with $41.7 million in payroll, double that of all but Toronto ($31.4 million) and Chicago ($25.1 million). Nashville’s roster makes more money than Messi at $21.4 million.
Messi’s teammates include midfielder Sergio Busquets ($8,774,996), forward Luis Suarez and left-back Jordi Alba ($1.5 million each).
St. Louis has the lowest payroll among the 29 teams at $12 million, just behind Salt Lake and San Jose ($13.6 million each).
LA Galaxy reduced its salary early last year from $23.5 million to $17.9 million, and Atlanta reduced its salary from $21.3 million to $16.7 million. Toronto increased its payroll from a league-high $25.7 million at the start of 2023, while Nashville’s increased from $14 million.
Toronto winger Lorenzo Insigne ranked second with $15.4 million, followed by Busquets, Chicago midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri with $8,153,000, Austin midfielder Sebastian Driusz with $6,722,500, and Toronto winger Federico Bernardeschi with $6,295,381, New York Red Bulls. Midfielder Emil Forsberg followed with $6,035,625.
Among the new players in MLS this year are Chicago forward Hugo Cuypers ($3,528,044) and LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ($350,000).
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The average base salary for senior roster players, excluding designated players who only partially count toward the team salary cap, is $513,075, up 8.4% from $473,292 at the start of last year. Total guaranteed compensation averages $594,389.
Total compensation for all contracted players is $519 million, a 12.8% increase from $460 million at the start of last season and $394 million at the start of 2022.
Among Team USA players, Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman received $3,456,979, Dallas forward Jesus Pereira received $2,204,000, Seattle winger Jordan Morris received $1,693,750, Colorado midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic received $1,675,000, Cincinnati defender Myles Robinson received $1,578,580, and Seattle midfielder Christian Roldan received $1. . .541,000 and Cincinnati right back DeAndre Yedlin for $898,750.
The Associated Press reported.
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