Son Heung-Min Joins Messi as Top MLS Salary Earners

Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-Min has become one of the highest-paid players in Major League Soccer (MLS), joining Lionel Messi as the only athletes in the league to earn more than $10 million annually. Son’s guaranteed compensation stands at $11.2 million, while Messi leads the pack with a remarkable $20.4 million. This information was released by the MLS Players Association, which published its annual salary data on October 1, 2025.

Messi’s impressive earnings are solely from his playing salary, although he has lucrative additional revenue streams, including a significant endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue-sharing agreement with the league’s broadcast partner, Apple. According to reports from Sportico, Messi could potentially earn up to $150 million over the course of his two-and-a-half-year contract, which was recently extended through the end of the 2028 season.

Son’s contract with LAFC runs through 2027, with options to extend until 2029. The top five earners in MLS include Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami, Sergio Busquets, who earns $8.8 million, followed by Miguel Almirón of Atlanta United at $6.1 million and Hirving Lozano of San Diego FC at $6 million.

MLS Team Payroll Insights

Inter Miami continues to lead in total team spending, with a record outlay of $48.97 million. Despite this financial commitment, the club missed out on securing a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield, which was claimed by the low-spending Philadelphia Union. Miami’s spending is more than double that of 27 of the league’s remaining 29 teams.

Following Miami, LAFC ranks second in team payroll at $30.1 million, while Atlanta United follows closely with $28.48 million. Other teams rounding out the top five include FC Cincinnati with $23.19 million and the Chicago Fire at $23.11 million.

The lowest payroll in the league belongs to CF Montreal at $12.92 million, with FC Dallas at $13.15 million and the Philadelphia Union at $13.43 million also near the bottom. The average team expenditure across the league has increased to $19.69 million, a rise of 7% from the previous year. The median team spend was $18.01 million, up 8% from last year.

Toronto FC experienced the most substantial drop in payroll, plummeting from $31.81 million to $13.65 million due to the midseason departures of designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

The overall salary pool for MLS players continues to grow, with the average guaranteed base compensation now at $632,809, reflecting a 6.1% increase from last year. The median guaranteed base compensation also rose to $338,347, marking a 9.7% increase from $308,375 in September 2024.

MLS and the MLSPA are currently in the fifth year of their Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was established in February 2021 and will remain in effect until the end of the 2027 season. The financial landscape of the league is evolving, with a growing emphasis on player salaries and team investments as MLS continues to expand its reach and popularity.