Lionel Messi is doing what Lionel Messi does — rewriting the record books. According to reports from Al Jazeera, the Inter Miami superstar is now earning a staggering $28 million per year in base salary, a figure that effectively doubles the MLS base salary benchmark. It's another reminder that when the greatest player of his generation decided to bring his talents to American soccer, nothing was ever going to be the same again.
For context, MLS has long operated under a strict salary structure designed to maintain competitive balance across the league. The fact that Messi's base salary alone is twice the league's standard floor speaks volumes about both his star power and the financial ambitions of Inter Miami's ownership group. This isn't just a number on a paycheck — it's a statement about where American soccer is heading.
Since arriving in South Florida in the summer of 2023, Messi has done nothing but elevate the profile of MLS on the global stage. Attendance records have been shattered. TV ratings have surged. Jersey sales have gone through the roof. Sponsors have lined up. The so-called Messi Effect has been very real, and the business case for paying him at this level is hard to argue against when you look at the revenue his presence has generated for the league as a whole.
But the conversation doesn't stop at Inter Miami. Every MLS club has benefited from Messi's decision to come stateside. When Inter Miami rolls into town, it's an event. Stadiums sell out. Local media goes into overdrive. Fans who may have never watched a full MLS match before are suddenly tuning in. That kind of rising tide lifts all boats across the league.
Of course, the salary gap between Messi and the rest of the league does raise questions about competitive equity. Critics will point out that concentrating this level of financial firepower in one club creates an uneven playing field. Supporters of the model will counter that Messi's presence has grown the overall pie significantly enough that every team wins in the long run.
What's undeniable is that American soccer fans are living through a genuinely historic moment. A player widely regarded as the greatest of all time has chosen MLS as the stage for the final chapter of his career, and he's being compensated accordingly. Whether you're watching from a packed stadium in Miami, cheering from a sports bar in Dallas, or following the action from El Paso, the impact of Messi in American soccer is something the next generation of fans will be talking about for decades.
As the 2025 MLS season continues to unfold, all eyes will remain on Messi and Inter Miami — and that $28 million salary will keep the conversation going both on and off the pitch.