Toronto FC midfielder Alonso Coello, left, defends Lionel Messi during Inter Miami's victory at BMO Field on May 9.Nick Turchiaro/Reuters
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi continues to lead Major League Soccer with a guaranteed salary of $28.3-million (all figures in U.S. dollars) this season, according to figures released Tuesday by the MLS Players Association.
That’s up from the $20.5-million the 38-year-old Argentine made last year.
But Messi’s MLS paycheque is just part of his income. Forbes estimated the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner earned $135-million in 2025. The magazine had Messi fifth on its list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, sandwiched between Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Toronto lost to Messi, but ‘world-class’ BMO Field nailed its World Cup test run
Forbes had 41-year-old Portugal soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo No. 1 at $275-million, thanks in large part to a bumper salary at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
South Korean winger Heung-min Son of Los Angeles FC remains second in MLS pay at $11.2-million. Inter Miami’s Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul comes in at No. 3 at $9.7-million.
San Diego FC’s Mexican winger Hirving (Chucky) Lozano ranks fourth at $9.3-million with Atlanta United’s Paraguayan winger Miguel Almiron fifth at $7.9-million.
U.S. international striker Josh Sargent and German icon Thomas Muller are the top earners on Canadian teams, with Sargent making $5.3-million for Toronto FC and Muller $5.2-million with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Spanish attacking midfielder Ivan Jaime leads the CF Montreal salary ranks at $2.1-million.
Other TFC players making in excess of $1-million are playmaker Djordje Mihailovic ($2.8-million), centre back Walker Zimmerman ($1.7-million), midfielder Jose Cifuentes ($1.6-million), winger Daniel Salloi ($1.3-million), fullback Richie Laryea ($1.2-million) and captain/midfielder Jonathan Osorio ($1.1-million).
Where to watch the World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver
Vancouver attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld is making $3.7-million this season. Other Whitecaps with seven-figure salaries are winger Cheikh Sabaly and defender Sam Adekugbe (both $1.4-million), defensive midfielder Andres Cubas, winger Emmanuel Sabbi and centre back Mathias Laborda (all $1.2-million) and striker Brian White ($1.1-million).
Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, tied for second in the league with seven assists, is a bargain at $480,000.
Ghanaian forward Prince Owusu ($1.3-million) is the only other Montreal player making more than $1-million.
Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio’s salary at LAFC is $1.8-million. Dayne St. Clair earns $808,730 at Inter Miami while fellow Canadian ‘keeper Maxime Crepeau is getting $600,000 at Orlando City.
Other Canadians south of the border include LAFC’s Mathieu Choiniere ($725,000), Chicago’s Joel Waterman ($598,150), Austin FC’s Jayden Nelson ($554,000), LAFC’s Jacob Shaffelburg ($520,000), Portland’s James Pantemis ($320,833), Seattle’s Osaze De Rosario ($315,000), St. Louis’ Kyle Hiebert ($289,000) and LAFC’s Ryan Raposo ($220,000).