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<p>MLSPA Salary Overview</p>
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<p>
<img alt="Lionel Messi retains his title as the highest-paid player in MLS - Salaries for Heung-min Son and Thomas Müller disclosed"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/mls-best-paid-players-spotlight-1761764088-181597.jpg"
title="Lionel Messi retains his title as the highest-paid player in MLS - Salaries for Heung-min Son and Thomas Müller disclosed">
</img>
</p>
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<p>Lionel Messi continues to hold the title of the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, as detailed in the latest
<strong>MLSPA Salary Guide</strong> released by the Major League Soccer Players Association. This guide outlines the
salaries of all MLS players under contract as of October 1, 2025. Messi, who plays for Inter Miami CF, tops the list
with an annual guaranteed salary of $20.4 million (€17.5m), followed closely by Sergio Busquets, who earns $8.8 million
(€7.5m) and ranks third. Jordi Alba also makes an appearance in the top ten, earning $6 million (€5.1m) in guaranteed pay.</p>
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<p>Messi's earnings are particularly noteworthy. A recent report from Forbes placed him as the second-highest-paid player in
the world, with an annual income of $130 million (€111.6m), of which $60 million (€51.5m) is derived from on-field activities.
This indicates a notable difference between the guaranteed pay outlined by the MLSPA and the overall earnings reported by Forbes.</p>
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<p>Unsurprisingly, Inter Miami leads the league in total guaranteed compensation with $49 million (€42m) allocated to their players
for the 2025 season. LAFC follows in second place with a guaranteed compensation of $30.1 million (€25.8m). Despite the existence
of a salary cap and various player allocation mechanisms, there remains a significant disparity between the top and bottom
earning teams. CF Montréal, for instance, ranks lowest, with annual guaranteed compensation of just $13 million (€11.2m).</p>
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<p>
<img alt="Comparison of Highest and Lowest Spending Clubs in MLS"
height="629"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/highest-vs-lowest-mls-salaries-club-ranking-1761762735-181593.png?lm=1761762750"
title="Comparison of Highest and Lowest Spending Clubs in MLS"
width="503">
</img>
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<h2>
<img alt="Comparison of Highest and Lowest Spending Clubs in MLS"
height="629"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/highest-vs-lowest-spending-clubs-in-mls-2-2-1761762842-181594.png?lm=1761762854"
title="Comparison of Highest and Lowest Spending Clubs in MLS"
width="503">
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<h2>New Additions to the Salary Rankings – Son in Second, Müller’s True Earnings Revealed</h2>
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<p>Joining the list and now ranked second overall is Heung-Min Son of LAFC. Acquired for a record €22 million from Tottenham Hotspur,
Son's guaranteed compensation for 2025 amounts to $11.2 million (€9.6m). It’s important to note that this figure is annualized
over the duration of his contract and may not reflect his actual earnings in 2025.</p>
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<p>
<img alt="Top Salaries in MLS Overview"
height="629"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/top-salaries-in-mls-1761762951-181595.png?lm=1761762974"
title="Top Salaries in MLS Overview"
width="503">
</img>
</p>
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<p>Similarly, Thomas Müller of the Vancouver Whitecaps is included, having joined the club after Bayern Munich's exit from the FIFA
Club World Cup. His guaranteed annual salary stands at $1.4 million (€1.2m) according to the MLSPA. However, he is expected to receive
significantly less this season, with reports indicating he will earn approximately $685,000 (€588,275) through the season's end.</p>
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