Lionel Messi’s basic salary in the United States, where he plays for David Beckham’s Inter Miami, has reportedly been revealed.
Lionel Messi’s basic salary at Inter Miami has reportedly been revealed.
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has emerged as the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS), boasting a guaranteed compensation of $20 446 667 (R362 million).
This equates to more than $1 million (R17.7 million) per match for the 19 regular-season games he played, with some appearances coming off the bench.
However, Messi’s impact extends far beyond his on-field contributions for Inter Miami.
Front Office Sports estimates his total earnings to be closer to $150 million (R2.6 billion) annually, factoring in revenue from adidas kit sales and Apple TV streaming subscriptions.
The second-highest paid player in the MLS is Toronto FC winger Lorenzo Insigne, who earns $15.4 million (R272.8 million) a season, while no other player exceeds the $10 million (R177.2 million) mark for the 2024 campaign.
The MLS Players Association released the salary figures at the end of last week, revealing that 22 players earned over $3 million (R53.1 million) in guaranteed compensation (which includes basic wages and bonuses), and 47 players received more than $2 million (R35.4 million).
There are currently 910 professional players in the league, with 126 of them earning $1 million or more.
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The base salary for MLS players stands at $71 401 (R1.2 million), with 75 players earning this amount.
By Kurt Buckerfield
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