Highest Paid Major League Soccer Players 2025: Salaries & Contracts

Major League Soccer (MLS) has dramatically evolved from a modest pay structure to attracting global stars with multi-million-dollar contracts. In 2025, the highest paid Major League Soccer players headline this shift. These top earners are mostly Designated Players (DPs) whose salaries exceed the normal salary cap. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi leads the list, with several other international stars like Sergio Busquets, Lorenzo Insigne, and Emil Forsberg close behind. We’ll break down how MLS salaries work, reveal 2025 salary figures for the top players and teams, and explain the rules (Designated Player slots, Allocation Money, salary budgets) that allow for these high salaries.

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Image: Lionel Messi celebrates a goal for Inter Miami (one of the league’s highest-paid MLS players).

MLS enforces a salary budget (roughly $5.95 million per team in 2025), but has exceptions to attract stars. Under the so‑called “Beckham Rule” (Designated Player rule), each club may sign up to three Designated Players whose salaries exceed the budget cap. For example, the roster rules specify that a Designated Player’s entire salary and transfer costs only count as the maximum budget charge (about $743,750 in 2025). Teams also use Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and General Allocation Money (GAM) to “buy down” salaries – in effect subsidizing big contracts under the cap. In short, MLS clubs can legally pay top stars millions of dollars by labeling them DPs and using allocation money to offset their cap hits.

At the same time, most MLS players earn far less – the average salary in 2025 is only about $594,000. Teams like Inter Miami skew this average upward. One report notes “Inter Miami… has the highest average salary at $1.2 million — a figure likely driven up by Messi’s presence”. In fact, Messi’s full compensation (~$20.4M guaranteed in 2024) is “more than the total payrolls of nearly two-thirds of the other MLS clubs”. By contrast, small-market teams pay far less (the bottom teams average under $400K).

MLS Salary Structure and Designated Players

MLS salary rules are complex, but the key points are: each team has a salary cap (budget charge) and special slots for expensive players. In 2025, the overall cap is about $5.95 million per team. Normally, each player’s full salary counts toward this cap, up to a per-player maximum (the “Individual Maximum Salary Budget Charge” of $743,750 in 2025).

However, Designated Players (DPs) allow teams to exceed the cap. MLS rules explain that the DP rule “allows clubs to acquire up to three players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge,” with the club paying the excess out of pocket. In practice, a DP only counts as $743,750 against the cap (even if he earns $4M+ in reality). This mechanism – often called the Beckham Rule – lets MLS franchises sign international stars. (David Beckham himself was the first DP in 2007.)

Beyond DPs, teams can also sign young players on reduced charges (Young Designated Players) and use Allocation Money (GAM/TAM). GAM and TAM are league-provided funds that clubs apply to buy down a player’s cap hit. For example, if an attacker earns $1M, a team might use $250K in TAM to reduce his budget charge. TAM is typically used on high earners (including converting a DP into a non-DP), while GAM can be used on any salary under certain limits. In short, MLS contracts often list a player’s base salary, but guaranteed comp (including bonuses) can be higher. Clubs publicly report base salary and annualized guaranteed pay; for example, an official salary guide explains how base salary plus signing bonuses comprise “guaranteed compensation”. This means a player’s annual earnings may exceed the number shown as “base salary” in media reports.

Key points:

MLS 2025 team salary cap: $5.95M (max per team).
Individual maximum charge: $743,750 (2025).
Each team can have up to 3 Designated Players (DPs) whose actual salaries can be much higher; only $743,750 counts per DP.
Allocation Money (TAM/GAM) is used to “buy down” salary charges and fit high salaries under the cap.
Official salary reporting: “base salary” plus bonuses (“guaranteed compensation”).

These rules explain how MLS can host high-earning stars. In practice, nearly all of the top-paid MLS players are Designated Players or equivalents. For example, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets are both DPs with salaries far above the cap. In 2024 Messi’s base salary was $12 million (only his cap charge), while his guaranteed comp was much higher.

Top Highest Paid MLS Players in 2025

Multiple sources (MLS PA, Capology, sports media) list the highest earners in MLS. As of early 2025, the top paid players are largely the names you’d expect – global stars on DP contracts. The following are the highest-paid MLS players in 2025, with salary figures from Capology and MLS reports:

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – ~$12.0 million annual base salary. Messi is by far the top earner; his weekly pay (~$231k/week) dwarfs all others. (His guaranteed compensation including bonuses reached ~$20.4M in 2024, more than most teams’ payroll.)
Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) – ~$8.5 million per year. Busquets signed a 2½-year deal in 2023 that pays about $8.5M annually, making him the second-highest. He is also a DP (only counting as ~$743K against the cap).
Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) – ~$7.5 million per year. The Italian forward was the league’s highest-paid in 2022 and remains among the top earners. His large contract (~$144k/week) has been controversial given his modest on-field output.
Emil Forsberg (NY Red Bulls) – ~$5.4 million per year. The Swedish playmaker joined NYRB in late 2023; his salary (~$103k/week) puts him at the top of Red Bulls payroll. In 2024 he had ~14 goal contributions in 23 games.
Christian Benteke (DC United) – ~$4.25 million per year. The Belgian striker (2023 MLS Golden Boot winner) earns about $4.2M/year. Benteke’s deal (extended in 2024) reflects his 23-goal 2023 season.
Carles Gil (New England Rev.) – ~$4.0 million per year. The Spanish midfielder’s 2024 MVP season earned him a DP contract around $4M/year.
Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy) – ~$4.0 million per year. The former Barcelona midfielder signed with LA Galaxy in 2022. His $4M salary is a steal for LA, given his strong 2023 play (Galaxy won MLS Cup).
Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) – ~$3.8 million per year. Nashville’s German star (MLS MVP 2022) extended his contract in 2022; he now earns ~$3.8M annually. Mukhtar (co-leading 2022 Golden Boot) is Nashville’s all-time top scorer.
Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire) – ~$3.24 million per year. The Belgian forward joined Chicago in 2024 and earns about $3.2M/year.
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) – ~$3.2 million per year. The U.S. center-back is the only American among the top earners. Zimmerman’s $3.2M salary (as of 2022 contract) puts him in the top 10.

According to Front Office Sports (Apr 2025 update), the complete top 10 list (ranked by total compensation) is as above. (Tied at 6th were Gil and Puig at $4M each.) Beyond the top 10, players ranked 11–25 include names like Joseph Paintsil ($3.14M), Federico Bernardeschi ($3.13M), Denis Bouanga ($2.92M), Ryan Gauld ($2.88M), Luis Muriel ($2.83M), and others.

This list shows that attacking players dominate MLS payrolls: eleven of the top twelve are forwards or attacking midfielders. In fact, a Sports Illustrated analysis noted that among the 25 highest-paid, only four are not forwards. The DP slots are often used on international stars, but notable non-DP cases include players like Walker Zimmerman, whose salary was bought down by allocation money.

For perspective, here are the Top 5 highest-paid MLS players in 2025 (annual base salary):

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – ~$12.0M.
Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) – ~$8.5M.
Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) – ~$7.5M.
Emil Forsberg (NY Red Bulls) – ~$5.4M.
Christian Benteke (DC United) – ~$4.25M.

Each of these players is a Designated Player, meaning MLS rules allow their clubs to pay them above the salary cap.

Examples of Notable Contracts and Salaries

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – Signed a 2.5-year DP contract in 2023. His reported base salary is $12M/year. However, including signing bonuses and guarantees, his total compensation was $20.4M in 2024. (MLS reports this as his “guaranteed compensation,” which includes prorated bonuses.) At ~$231K/week, Messi’s pay is by far the highest in MLS. (A Planet Football report confirms he earns ~£178,622/week.)
Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) – Joined Inter Miami in mid-2023. Initial reports said he signed a 2.5-year contract worth ~$17M total. His salary jumped from $1.5M (2023) to about $8.5M (2024). This $8.5M (or ~$163K/week) ranks him #2 in MLS pay. (Busquets’s former Barça salary was ~$26M/week, so Miami is a big cut – but huge for MLS.)
Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) – The Italian winger’s MLS contract pays ~$7.5M/year. Early reports called him “the highest-paid player in the league” at signing (2022), although Messi later surpassed him. Insigne’s guaranteed comp was $15.4M in 2024 (including bonuses), despite struggles on the field.
Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls) – Signed from RB Leipzig for NYRB’s record transfer fee. Forsberg’s deal pays ~$5.4M/year, and his annual salary is the first in MLS to exceed $5M outside the Miami duo. He earns over $100K/week.
Christian Benteke (D.C. United) – Joined DC United in 2023. He reportedly earns $4.25M per year. After netting 23 goals in 2023, his deal was extended (2024) at roughly $81.7K/week.
Carles Gil (New England) – Originally signed at a modest salary, Gil was given a new contract in 2024. He now earns ~$4M/year. He won the 2021 MLS MVP and has averaged ~18 goal contributions per season.
Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy) – Signed in 2022 on a 4-year deal, Puig’s salary was underreported for 2023, but starting in 2024-25 it is about $4M/year. (His weekly rate ~$76,923.) He missed most of 2024 with injury but remains one of the highest-paid midfielders.
Other high earners: Hany Mukhtar’s ~$3.8M, Hugo Cuypers’s ~$3.24M, Walker Zimmerman’s ~$3.2M. Newcomers like Joseph Paintsil ($3.14M) and Federico Bernardeschi ($3.13M) also joined the top-25 list in 2024. Even some defenders (e.g. Thiago Martins, $2.0M) break into the higher pay brackets.

This MLS salary list for 2025 shows a clear pattern: star internationals on DP deals occupy nearly all top spots, while fewer domestic players appear. (Aside from Zimmerman, the next highest-paid American is Seattle’s Jordan Morris at ~$25K/week – well outside the top 10.)

Team Payrolls and Averages

High player salaries mean certain teams spend much more. Inter Miami, for instance, has by far the highest payroll. According to one 2024 report, Miami’s total roster salary was about $41.7M (avg. $1.2M per player) – thanks largely to Messi and Busquets. Toronto FC ($31.8M total, $1.0M avg) and LA Galaxy ($22.0M, $813K avg) were second and third. By contrast, teams like CF Montréal spend under $12M total (avg ~$369K).

These figures underline how designating a few DPs can dramatically raise a team’s payroll and the league average. One analysis notes that Miami’s average salary ($1.2M) is nearly double the league average. As a result, MLS player earnings vary widely by club. Smaller-market teams rely on younger or academy players with salaries closer to the league minimum (~$80K), while big-spending clubs “splash the cash” on marquee names.

How MLS Contracts Work

MLS contracts can be complex. Besides base salary, players may earn appearance bonuses, goal bonuses, marketing incentives, and a share of league-wide revenue deals. The MLS Players Association Salary Guide breaks each salary into “Annualized Base Salary” and “Average Annual Guaranteed Compensation”. Guaranteed comp includes prorated signing bonuses and guaranteed incentives, but excludes performance bonuses. For example, Messi’s $12M base plus roughly $8M of signing/marketing bonuses gave him ~$20.4M guaranteed in 2024.

It’s also worth noting that reported salaries exclude off-field deals. Lionel Messi, for instance, earns significant income from his Inter Miami marketing and global sponsorships (e.g. Apple TV and Adidas partnerships) that aren’t part of his MLS contract. Media reports may sometimes confuse these figures. The official cap figures (like $12M for Messi) only cover what the club and league pay from the salary budget.

FAQ

Who is the highest paid MLS player in 2025?

Lionel Messi is the highest paid MLS player in 2025, with an annual base salary around $12.0 million. His guaranteed compensation (including bonuses) is even higher (~$20.4M in 2024).

Who are the top earning soccer players in the USA (MLS)?

Besides Messi, the next highest earners are fellow Inter Miami DP Sergio Busquets (~~$8.5M) and Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne (~~$7.5M). Other top-paid players include Emil Forsberg (NYRB, ~$5.4M), Christian Benteke (DCU, ~$4.25M), Carles Gil (NE Revs, ~$4.0M), and Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy, ~$4.0M). All are designated players.

What is the Designated Player rule in MLS?

The Designated Player rule (the “Beckham Rule”) allows MLS teams to sign up to three players whose salaries exceed the league’s salary cap. These DPs only count a fixed budget charge (~$743,750) against the cap, allowing clubs to pay them much higher actual wages. The rule was adopted in 2007 to attract star talent.

How many Designated Players can a team have?

Each MLS team can have up to three Designated Players on its roster. (There is a financial fee to have the third DP slot in some cases.) Some recent roster rules have allowed teams to convert a DP slot into two younger “U22 Initiative” slots, but the basic limit is three DPs.

What was the average MLS salary in 2025?

For 2025, the average MLS player salary is around $594,000 per year. This is roughly a 12% increase over 2023. The median is lower. The high salaries of star players raise the average; for example, Inter Miami’s average is ~$1.2M, while bottom teams like CF Montréal average only ~$369K.

How do MLS player earnings compare to other U.S. leagues?

MLS salaries are generally lower than the NBA or NFL. Even top MLS salaries ($12M) are far below the $30M+ contracts in those leagues. But compared to other soccer leagues, MLS is catching up. The highest MLS pay now rivals mid-tier European leagues. (By contrast, the top Premier League players earn $300K+ per week.)

Where can I see official MLS salary and contract information?

MLS publishes a Salary Guide via the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) each year, listing every player’s base salary and guaranteed comp. Media sites like Capology, Spotrac, and MLSsoccer.com also summarize salaries. Note that MLS contracts can include bonuses, which may not fully appear in base salary figures.

What is the MLS salary cap for 2025?

For 2025, each MLS team has a salary budget of $5,950,000 (the total of budget charges on the senior roster). The maximum budget charge for any player is $743,750. Designated Players exceed this cap charge (with their extra salary paid by the club). Teams also get Allocation Money (GAM/TAM) to effectively raise how much they can spend on salaries within the cap rules.

Conclusion

In summary, the highest paid Major League Soccer players in 2025 are predominantly international stars on DP contracts. Lionel Messi tops the list (with about $12M base per year), followed by Sergio Busquets and Lorenzo Insigne. These huge salaries are enabled by MLS roster rules (Designated Players, TAM/GAM). Overall, 2025 MLS salaries reflect a league investing in marquee talent. At the same time, the average MLS salary (~$594K) remains far below these peaks, highlighting the gap between superstars and the rest of the roster.

Understanding MLS contracts and salary lists is key for fans and analysts. We’ve covered the latest salary data, team payrolls, and how designated players can earn multi-million deals in a cap league. Share this article if you found it useful, and let us know who you think will crack the top-10 highest paid MLS players next season!