Messi Earns More Than the Entire Roster of 22 MLS Teams Combined

When Lionel Messi made the leap across the Atlantic to join Major League Soccer, soccer fans worldwide suddenly had their gaze fixed on the U.S. And hey, it’s no stretch to say his arrival at Inter Miami turned things upside down, from media attention to league standards and everything in between. But what’s catching attention now is the jaw-dropping price tag of this “Messi revolution.” One salary, larger than the combined payroll of 22 out of 29 league teams, is forcing a closer look at Messi’s financial footprint in American soccer.

With a base salary of $12 million and a total annual payout of $20.4 million (thanks to some juicy marketing bonuses), Messi is playing in a league of his own, financially, at least. And that’s without counting any performance incentives or side deals he might have lined up with sponsors. So, the big question, does the splashy investment actually pay off? Does the high cost of keeping Messi stateside really help build the league, or does it just lay bare the stark financial divide in American soccer?

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For smaller league teams struggling to keep up with payrolls, Inter Miami has shattered every average in MLS by shelling out a whopping $41.7 million per year just on player salaries. And, naturally, Messi takes a good chunk of that pie. To put it in perspective, the second-highest spender, Toronto FC, comes in at $31.8 million. When there’s a gap of nearly $10 million, it’s clear Messi’s impact stretches far beyond just what happens on the field.

Here’s where it gets interesting. MLS has a salary cap, a spending ceiling to keep team budgets balanced and encourage level competition. But, well, MLS seems to have carved out a gold-plated exception for Messi, probably to cash in on the star power he brings to the States. But this choice splits the league into two worlds: one where a few clubs can go all out for international superstars, and another where the rest have to make do with far less.

And it’s not just about Messi. There’s also Sergio Busquets, who’s making a “modest” $8.8 million in comparison, but still belongs to that elite salary club surpassing the total payrolls of most MLS teams. Or take Lorenzo Insigne at Toronto FC, pulling in nearly half of what the club spends on its entire squad. This circle of big-name players is seen as crucial to bringing global eyes to MLS, but it could be quietly undercutting the league’s competitive spirit.

One thing American fans love is a fair game. The idea of watching a match where one team’s loaded with superstars while the other scrapes by with modest earners? It leaves a sour taste. While Messi enjoys the glitz and millions, the rest of MLS wrestles with financial survival, and the gap only grows more obvious.

Now, there’s no denying that Inter Miami is basking in the limelight. The franchise went from relative obscurity to global headlines, thanks to Messi’s arrival and the surge in fans and interest that followed. For Inter Miami’s owners, the extra millions might make perfect sense. Stadiums are packed, jerseys fly off shelves, it’s an instant payoff. But what about the long haul? Will the math add up years down the line, or does this bubble risk bursting once the initial excitement fades?

MLS needs Messi; that’s crystal clear. But it also needs the rest of the league, the other teams and players, to grow as a whole, not just to become a one-man show. If the league can’t find ways to let other teams keep up, there’s a real risk that MLS will split into the haves and have-nots.