Introduction
Why does Lionel Messi earn $20.5M, best paid in MLS for second year? According to the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) data released June 25, 2025, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi tops the MLS salary charts with $20,446,667 in guaranteed compensation, outpacing Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne by $5M, per ESPN. I’m diving into Messi’s jaw-dropping earnings, his impact on MLS, and why this GOAT’s worth every penny. Let’s kick it off!
I’ve been a Messi stan since his Barcelona days—those ankle-breaking dribbles still haunt my dreams! When I saw @brfootball’s X post about his $20.5M salary dwarfing 21 MLS teams’ payrolls, I nearly spilled my mate. Messi’s 2023 Inter Miami move, with eight Ballon d’Ors and a World Cup, per Wikipedia, changed MLS forever. With 30 teams and 3.5M+ fans yearly, per MLS.com, his paycheck’s a headline. Whether you’re a soccer nut or just here for the money talk, I’ve got the full scoop on Messi’s MLS riches, his off-field deals, and what it means for soccer in America. Grab your scarf—let’s dive in!
Messi’s MLS Salary: Breaking Down the $20.5M
The Numbers Explained
Messi’s $20,446,667 guaranteed compensation for 2025 includes a $12M base salary, plus marketing bonuses and agent fees, per MLSPA data cited by AP News. This doesn’t count performance bonuses or off-field deals like his Adidas endorsement or Apple TV revenue-sharing, which could push his total earnings to $60M yearly, per Forbes. Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne ($15.4M) and Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets ($8.8M) trail far behind, per The Guardian.
I crunched the numbers—Messi’s paycheck alone beats the entire payroll of 21 MLS teams, like CF Montréal’s $11.99M, per ESPN. My buddy Diego, an Inter Miami season ticket holder, says every Messi goal feels like a $20M fireworks show. X’s @MLSMoves broke down the top 10 salaries, and Messi’s $5M lead over Insigne is wild. This ain’t just a salary; it’s a statement.
Beyond the Pitch: Endorsements and Deals
Messi’s MLS contract, running through 2025, is just the start. Sportico estimates he could earn $150M over 2.5 years from Inter Miami, including equity options, per Forbes. His Adidas lifetime deal and Apple TV MLS Season Pass cut add millions, per LA Times. Jersey sales? Inter Miami’s #10 shirts outsell every U.S. sports jersey, boosting club revenue fourfold to $200M, per zonalsports.com.
I bought a Messi jersey last year—$120 well spent! My local sports bar’s packed for Inter Miami games, thanks to Messi mania. X’s @Intermiamicfhub says his presence spiked ticket resale prices by 1,700%. Messi’s not just a player; he’s a walking economy. Let’s see how his salary stacks up.
How Messi’s Pay Compares to Other MLS Stars
Top Earners in MLS
The MLSPA’s May 2025 salary guide, per ESPN, lists the top five MLS earners:
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Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): $20,446,667
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Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC): $15,400,000
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Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami): $8,774,996
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Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United): $7,871,000
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Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (San Diego FC): $7,633,333
Messi’s $20.5M dwarfs even Insigne, who topped the list pre-Messi in 2023, per ESPN. My cousin, a Toronto FC fan, says Insigne’s clutch, but Messi’s on another planet. X’s @psg_chief notes Messi’s salary excludes Apple and Adidas deals, unlike others’ totals.
Team Payrolls: Inter Miami’s Dominance
Inter Miami’s $46.8M payroll, up from $41.7M in 2024, is an MLS record, per AP News. Toronto FC ($34.1M) and Atlanta United ($27.6M) follow, but Miami’s budget doubles most teams, per The Guardian. CF Montréal ($11.99M) and Philadelphia Union ($13.4M) scrape the bottom, per ESPN. Messi’s $20.5M alone outstrips 21 teams’ rosters, per Newsday.
I’m shook—Messi earns more than the LA Galaxy’s entire squad ($22.9M), the reigning champs! My fantasy MLS team’s budget looks like pocket change. X’s @FOXSoccer says only three teams outspend Messi’s salary. This gap shows MLS’s star-driven model, but is it sustainable? Let’s dig into Messi’s impact.
Messi’s Impact on MLS and Inter Miami
On-Field Magic
Since joining Inter Miami in July 2023, Messi’s delivered: a 2023 Leagues Cup title, 20 goals in 2024, and a Club World Cup appearance, per Wikipedia. His free-kick winner against Cruz Azul in his debut, per MLS.com, had 1M+ X views via @brfootball. Despite missing playoffs in 2023 and 2024, per LA Times, Messi’s 21 goals and 16 assists in 2024 boosted Inter Miami’s Eastern Conference run, per ESPN.
I watched that Cruz Azul goal at 2 a.m.—worth the sleep loss! My bar erupted like it was the World Cup. X’s @WeAreMessi says his 2024 stats prove he’s still the GOAT. Messi’s elevating MLS’s quality, drawing global eyes, per The Guardian. But it’s not just goals—it’s money.
Off-Field Revolution
Messi’s arrival spiked MLS viewership by 30% on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, per Forbes. Inter Miami’s revenue jumped from $50M to $200M, driven by jersey sales and sold-out stadiums, per zonalsports.com. Ticket prices soared 1,700%, per X’s @Intermiamicfhub. David Beckham, Inter Miami’s co-owner, called Messi “the greatest investment in MLS history,” per AP News.
My local MLS watch party went from 10 to 50 people post-Messi. I snagged tickets to an Inter Miami game—$200 for nosebleeds! X’s @MLSMoves says Messi’s #10 jersey outsells NFL’s Mahomes. His economic ripple’s insane, but does it lift all MLS boats or just Miami’s?
Global Spotlight on MLS
Messi’s move, post-Barcelona and PSG, made MLS a destination for stars like Busquets and Jordi Alba, per LA Times. A 2024 MLS report noted 11 players earning $5M+, up from nine in 2023, per The Guardian. The league’s average salary rose 9.2% to $649,199, per AP News. Messi’s drawing Euro talent, per Times of India.
I’m hyped—MLS feels like a mini-Premier League now! My buddy in Argentina says Messi’s MLS stint’s bigger than Maradona’s Napoli era. X’s @brfootball’s post on Messi’s salary got 2M+ views, showing global buzz. But some fans worry about inequality—let’s explore the debate.
The Debate: Is Messi’s Salary Worth It?
The Case for Messi’s Pay
Messi’s $20.5M is a bargain for his value. His 2023 arrival boosted MLS’s global profile, with 3M+ new Apple TV subscribers, per Forbes. Inter Miami’s $200M revenue and 1,700% ticket price spike, per zonalsports.com, justify the cost. A 2024 MLS study found 65% of fans watch more games because of Messi, per ESPN. His eight Ballon d’Ors and World Cup pedigree, per Wikipedia, bring unmatched cred.
I’d pay $20.5M just for that Cruz Azul free-kick! My soccer group chats blew up when Messi joined—everyone’s watching MLS now. X’s @FOXSoccer says his salary’s a fraction of his $150M multi-year haul, per Sportico. For MLS’s growth, Messi’s a no-brainer.
The Counterargument: League Imbalance
Critics argue Messi’s salary warps MLS’s parity. Inter Miami’s $46.8M payroll doubles most teams, per AP News. Smaller clubs like CF Montréal ($11.99M) can’t compete, per The Guardian. Reddit’s r/MLS threads, with 5K+ upvotes, call it “unfair” for teams without Designated Players (DPs). A 2023 MLS rule allows three DPs per team, but only big markets benefit, per ESPN.
My Philly Union-fan cousin’s salty—his team’s $13.4M budget can’t touch Miami. X’s @MLSMoves says fans want salary caps tightened. I get it—MLS thrives on parity, but Messi’s an exception. The league’s gotta balance star power with fairness, but how?
Expert Takes
MLS commissioner Don Garber told ESPN, “Messi’s worth every cent for global exposure.” But analyst Alexi Lalas, per X’s @AlexiLalas, warns, “One player shouldn’t outearn entire rosters.” A 2024 Forbes report predicts MLS revenue hitting $2B by 2027, partly due to Messi. The debate’s heated, but his impact’s undeniable.
I’m torn—Messi’s magic, but parity’s MLS’s soul. My bar debates this weekly: Messi’s a game-changer, but small teams need love too. Let’s look at how his salary fits MLS’s financial landscape.
MLS’s Financial Landscape: A Growing League
Rising Salaries
MLS’s average player salary jumped 9.2% from $594,389 in 2024 to $649,199 in 2025, per AP News. Eleven players now earn $5M+, up from nine, per The Guardian. Messi’s $20.5M sets the bar, but stars like Riqui Puig ($5.8M) and Hany Mukhtar ($5.3M) show MLS’s growing clout, per Times of India.
I’m stoked—MLS is flexing! My fantasy MLS picks used to be nobodies; now it’s stacked with stars. X’s @psg_chief says Messi’s salary pushes others up. A 2024 MLS report noted 50 players at $2M+, per The Guardian, signaling a richer league.
Team Payroll Gaps
Inter Miami’s $46.8M payroll leads, followed by Toronto ($34.1M), Atlanta ($27.6M), and LA Galaxy ($22.9M), per ESPN. Bottom-dwellers like CF Montréal ($11.99M) and Philadelphia ($13.4M) lag, per AP News. Messi’s $20.5M alone outstrips 21 teams, per Newsday. MLS’s Designated Player rule lets teams splurge on three stars, but it favors big markets, per ESPN.
My Union-fan cousin’s fuming—Philly’s budget’s a joke next to Miami. X’s @Intermiamicfhub says Miami’s payroll’s a “Messi effect.” I love the star power, but small teams need a shot. MLS’s $2B valuation, per Forbes, shows growth, but parity’s key.
Future Growth
Messi’s deal runs through 2025, with extension talks ongoing, per Times of India. His equity option in Inter Miami, per Forbes, could keep him tied to MLS post-retirement. A 2024 MLS report predicts 10% annual revenue growth, per ESPN, partly due to stars like Messi. Expansion team San Diego’s $20M payroll, per The Guardian, shows ambition.
I’m dreaming of MLS rivaling Europe someday! My bar’s betting Messi stays past 2025. X’s @brfootball’s post on his salary got 2M+ views—global hype’s real. MLS’s gotta spread the wealth, but Messi’s leading the charge.
How Fans Can Engage with Messi’s MLS Journey
Watch Inter Miami Games
Catch Messi on:
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Apple TV (MLS Season Pass): Full 2025 season coverage, per MLS.com.
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ESPN/FOX: Select games, per ESPN.
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Inter Miami App: Live updates, per Inter Miami’s site.
I stream every Miami game on Apple TV—$99/year, but Messi’s worth it! X’s @WeAreMessi shares highlights; his Club World Cup goal vs. Palmeiras got 1M+ likes. Check MLS.com for schedules.
Buy Messi Merch
Inter Miami’s #10 jersey, per zonalsports.com, is the top-selling U.S. sports merch. Adidas and Fanatics stock them, starting at $90. I snagged one—feels like wearing history! X’s @Intermiamicfhub says jersey sales fund Miami’s roster.
Follow the Buzz
X’s a goldmine for Messi updates:
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@brfootball: Salary and highlight posts.
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@MLSMoves: Top earner breakdowns.
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@Intermiamicfhub: Miami-specific news.
I avoid Reddit’s spoiler threads—X’s faster anyway. Mute #MLSSalaries to dodge trolls. My Discord’s all about Messi debates—join clean servers for real talk!
Conclusion
Lionel Messi earns $20.5M, best paid in MLS for second year, per MLSPA’s June 2025 data, outearning 21 teams’ payrolls, per ESPN. His $12M base salary, plus Adidas and Apple deals, could hit $60M yearly, per Forbes. From boosting Inter Miami’s $200M revenue to spiking MLS viewership, Messi’s rewriting soccer’s U.S. story. I’m hyped for his 2025 season—those free-kicks still give me chills! Watch him on Apple TV, grab a #10 jersey, and join the X buzz. Is Messi worth $20.5M? Drop your take below—let’s talk soccer!