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Jeff Carlisle
LAFC’s Son Heung-Min joined Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi as the only MLS players to make over $10 million in annual salary. Son, a summer acquisition by LAFC has guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million, while Messi remains the league’s highest paid player at $20.4 million.
The information is according to the MLS Players Association, which released its list of salary data Wednesday.
The figures include just what players make in salary, including any marketing bonus and agent’s fees. They do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.
Messi also benefits from other revenue streams such as his endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue sharing agreement with league broadcast partner Apple.
According to Sportico, Messi stands to earn up to $150 million over the life of the 2½-year contract that was due to expire at the end of this season. Messi, the newly crowned Golden Boot winner in MLS with 29 goals in 28 games, recently signed an extension with Inter Miami that will see him remain in South Florida through the end of the 2028 season.
Son’s LAFC contract runs through 2027 with options that could extend it to 2029.
The top five earners were rounded out by Messi’s club teammate Sergio Busquets, who makes $8.8 million, followed by Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón at $6.1 million and San Diego’s Hirving Lozano at $6 million.
All data is as of Oct. 1, 2025. The salary data was annualized for players who arrived during the summer transfer window.
Miami continues to lap the field in total team spending. Thanks to the midseason arrival of Rodrigo DePaul, Miami increased its spending to a record $48.97 million, though it missed out on a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield triumph, with the low-spending Philadelphia Union winning that trophy.
Miami’s outlay is more than double the amount spent by 27 of the league’s remaining 29 teams.
In terms of team payroll based on guaranteed base compensation, LAFC ranked second behind Miami at $30.1 million, followed by Atlanta United ($28.48 million) FC Cincinnati ($23.19 million) and the Chicago Fire ($23.11 million)
CF Montreal had the lowest payroll at $12.92 million, followed by FC Dallas ($13.15 million), the Philadelphia Union ($13.43 million), Toronto FC ($13.65 million) and Minnesota United ($14.54 million).
The average outlay per team was $19.69 million, compared to $18.41 million a year ago, an increase of 7%. The median spend per team was $18.01 million, compared with last year’s mark of $16.68 million. That represents an increase of 8%.
The most notable difference in spending year-over-year was that of Toronto FC, whose outlay plummeted from $31.81 million in 2024 to $13.65 million in 2025. This was due in large part to the midseason departures of designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.
The average guaranteed base compensation for the entire MLS player pool — which included pool players and retired players still owed money — continues to climb on an annual basis, rising to $632,809, up 6.1% from the September 2024 mark of $596,226. The salaries of players at the bottom of the wage scale continue to improve, as the league’s median guaranteed base compensation was $338,347, up 9.7% from the September 2024 mark of $308,375.
MLS and the MLSPA are in the fifth year of the collective bargaining agreement that was reached in February 2021. The CBA runs through the end of the 2027 season.
Total spend per team:
1. Inter Miami – $48.97 million
2. LAFC – $30.1 million
3. Atlanta United – 28.48
4. FC Cincinnati – $23.19 million
5. Chicago Fire – $23.11 million
6. Nashville SC – $22.44 million
7. Portland Timbers – $22.44 million
8. LA Galaxy – $22.26 million
9. San Diego FC – $22.25
10. New York Red Bulls – $22.07 million
11. Columbus Crew – $19.22 million
12. New England Revolution – $19.11 million
13. Charlotte FC – $19.02 million
14. New York City FC – $18.84 million
15. Seattle Sounders – $18.25 million
16. Vancouver Whitecaps – $17.77 million
17. Sporting Kansas City – $17.61 million
18. San Jose Earthquakes – $17.08 million
19. St. Louis City SC – $16.93 million
20. Houston Dynamo – $16.77 million
21. Orlando City – $16.11 million
22. Austin FC – $15.68 million
23. Real Salt Lake – $15.66 million
24. DC United – $14.92 million
25. Colorado Rapids – $14.63 million
26. Minnesota United – $14.54 million
27. Toronto FC – $13.65 million
28. Philadelphia Union – $13.43 million
29. FC Dallas – $13.15 million
30. CF Montreal – $12.92 million