In the United States, Lionel Messi’s salary at Inter Miami is higher than the combined salaries of all his teammates, as per the MLS player salary chart for the 2023 season released by the MLS Players Association on October 18th. Messi’s annual salary of $20.4 million is the highest in the league and accounts for over 50% of Inter Miami’s total salary of $39.419 million. In July, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas revealed that Messi also receives a portion of revenue from Apple TV, bringing his total earnings to approximately $60 million.
In the upcoming MLS season of 2023, Lorenzo Insigne, a forward for Toronto FC, will be the highest-paid player with a salary of $15.4 million. Following him are Xherdan Shaqiri of Chicago Fire with $8.15 million, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez of LA Galaxy with $7.44 million, and Federico Bernardeschi of Toronto FC with $6.3 million. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who both joined Inter Miami during the summer transfer window, receive salaries of $1.775 million and $1.25 million respectively. The average salary for MLS players has increased by 5.5% from $514,729 to $543,207 in 2023. Inter Miami is now the highest-paying club in MLS with a total of $39.419 million, which is double the amount they paid last year. Toronto FC ranks second with $32.293 million, followed by LA Galaxy, the reigning MLS champions, with $25.039 million, Los Angeles FC with $20.841 million, and Chicago Fire with $20.416 million.
In the 2023 season, Inter Miami finished last in the Eastern Conference of MLS, failing to secure a playoff spot like they did the previous year. However, with the addition of Messi, Inter Miami won their first-ever title in the Leagues Cup and made it to the finals of the US Cup.
Although Messi was disappointed that Inter Miami didn’t make it to the MLS playoffs, he attributed it to the team’s numerous injuries, including his own, and the grueling schedule of playing a match every three days in August. Nonetheless, after winning the Leagues Cup, Messi remains optimistic about the future of the team.
When asked about rumors of returning to Europe on a loan deal during the transfer window between seasons, Messi replied, “No. I will enjoy my vacation in Argentina. It’s the first time I have more days off in December. In January, I will come back to prepare for the new season. We will start over and prepare as best we can, like always.”
Messi recently returned to Argentina to participate in the World Cup 2026 qualifying matches in South America. On October 18th, he scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Peru, helping the national team solidify their position at the top of the standings with 12 points.
