MLS discloses salary
This is how much Lionel Messi earns at Inter Miami
October 19, 2023, 6:13 p.m
Lionel Messi spends the autumn of his career in the USA. Major League Soccer is now revealing how much. Meanwhile, the Argentine soccer world champion dispels rumors of a Barça return.
Superstar Lionel Messi is, unsurprisingly, the highest-paid professional soccer player in the North American Major League Soccer (MLS). The MLS figures published show that the 36-year-old offensive player earns $20,446,667 annually at his club Inter Miami, the equivalent of around 19.3 million euros. He is followed by Italy’s European champion Lorenzo Insigne from Toronto FC with 14.5 million euros and former Bayern professional Xherdan Shaqiri from Chicago Fire with 7.7 million euros.
According to MLS, Messi’s base salary is almost 11.4 million euros, plus bonus payments. In addition to the salary guaranteed by Inter Miami, the seven-time world footballer is expected to receive further income from participation in the US league’s marketing rights. When he moved in July, the AP news agency put Messi’s total annual income for his US engagement at between 47 and 57 million euros.
Barça return? Vacation instead
The Argentine world champion’s contract with his old club Paris Saint-Germain expired in the summer after two years. This week, Messi clearly dismissed rumors of a possible return to FC Barcelona during the winter break.
When asked about such a scenario, he said on the sidelines of the international match against Peru: “No. I will train, play our next game (with Inter Miami; ed.) and try to get back here (to the national team) as best as possible in November. to come back.” The Catalan newspaper “Sport” recently reported that Messi could return to Barça on loan in January in order to continue playing there.
Because the 36-year-old missed the playoffs in the American MLS league with Inter Miami, the midfielder’s season will end after next weekend. The Argentinian selection still has the prestigious duels against Uruguay (November 17th) and Brazil (November 22nd) in the World Cup qualification.
“After that I’ll enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It’s the first time that I’ll have more days off in December, with the holidays, in peace and with my people,” said double goalscorer Messi after the 2-0 win in the World Cup qualifier with the Albiceleste against Peru and added: “I will return in January to start the pre-season. I will start from the beginning and, as always, prepare as best as I can.”