In a recent report released by the MLS Players Association, it has been revealed that Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has become the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS). With a guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million, Messi's earnings surpass the combined guaranteed compensation totals of 25 entire MLS rosters.

According to the data, the average MLS salary for 2024 has seen a significant increase of 12.1%, rising to $594,390 from $530,262 in 2023. Interestingly, Inter Miami tops the chart with the highest salary spend in MLS, boasting a total guaranteed compensation of $30,913,242. On the opposite end, CF Montréal has the lowest salary spend at $10,812,226.

The top ten highest earners in MLS have also been revealed. Leading the pack is none other than Lionel Messi with his staggering $20.4 million guaranteed compensation. Trailing behind is Toronto FC winger Lorenzo Insigne with a salary of $15.4 million. Additionally, Miami defender Sergio Busquets has seen a remarkable leap to third place with an annual salary of $8.8 million, surpassing Xherdan Shaqiri, who has been receiving a consistent $8.2 million salary from the Chicago Fire.

The report also highlights five other MLS players who will earn over $5 million in guaranteed compensation this year. They include Sebastián Driussi of Austin ($6.7 million), Federico Bernardeschi of Toronto ($6.3 million), Emil Forsberg of the New York Red Bulls ($6 million), Héctor Herrera of the Houston Dynamo ($5.2 million), and Hany Mukhtar of Nashville ($5.2 million).

It is worth noting that Hany Mukhtar's salary increase is among the few exceptions, as he has been awarded a sizable wage above his 2023 earnings of $3.2 million. This has significantly contributed to Nashville's rise in the payroll hierarchy, placing them as the fourth-highest wage bill in MLS. Last season, Nashville ranked 12th with a guaranteed compensation of $17 million.

The question arises, how can Inter Miami afford to pay Lionel Messi such a massive salary within the MLS salary cap? In the arcane world of MLS salary regulations, Messi is classified as a designated player. While his budget charge against the cap is only $683,750, the senior maximum, his actual take-home pay amounts to the $20.4 million compensation.

Furthermore, Messi's contract includes value escalators and unique provisions that make it one of the most exceptional deals in MLS history. Notably, upon retirement, Messi has the option to purchase a minority ownership percentage in Inter Miami. Additionally, he will receive additional income through various MLS partners, including revenue from the new MLS Season Pass subscriptions on Apple TV, as well as compensation from his long-time sponsor Adidas and kit manufacturer Fanatics.

This latest reveal in MLS salary information also sheds light on the disparity in salary spends among teams. While Inter Miami leads the league by spending a staggering $41.7 million on player salaries, Lionel Messi alone takes home more than what 25 other teams spend on their entire roster salaries combined. Toronto FC follows closely behind with a total salary spend of $31.4 million, largely carried by the incomes of Insigne and Bernardeschi, amounting to $21.7 million. Meanwhile, Chicago Fire secures the third spot with a salary spend of $25.1 million, partially attributed to Xherdan Shaqiri's former record-setting salary.

As MLS braces for the upcoming season, the revelation of these salary figures highlights both the emergence of young talents and the continued prominence of aging stars. It will be interesting to see how these high-profile players impact their respective teams on the field in the coming months.