Superstar Lionel Messi is, unsurprisingly, the highest-paid professional soccer player in the North American Major Soccer League (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 (32) from Toronto FC with 14.5 million euros and former Bayern professional Xherdan Shaqiri (32) 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.
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.