New Delhi: Lionel Messi remains the highest earner in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and has further widened the gap among the top earners in the league after doubling his salary at Inter Miami. The Argentinian legend has signed his new contract at Inter Miami, increasing his base salary to a whopping $25 million (Rs 239.21 crore approximately) per year.

The latest figures released by the MLS Players Association confirmed that Messi has more than doubled his salary at Inter Miami after his new contract. The 38-year-old is now set to earn $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation at the club after his base salary was increased to $25 million annually.

As the top earner in the MLS, Messi is now earning more than double that of the second-highest paid player in the league – Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC. Son earns a base salary of $10.37 million at LA FC and has a total compensation of $11.5 million, which is nowhere close to what Inter Miami is paying Messi.

Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, was earning a base salary of $12 million per year in his previous deal. He signed a three-year contract recently, which will keep him at the club till the 2028 season. The Argentine maestro is one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. Besides his salary, Messi also earns from his multi-million dollar endorsement deals.

The 38-year-old also has an option to acquire a stake in Inter Miami once he leaves the club, which is owned by England legend David Beckham. Messi has been a talismanic figure at the club ever since arriving in Florida in 2023. He has scored 59 goals in 64 regular-season MLS matches for Inter Miami and helped them win the MLS Cup last year.

He was the leading goal-scorer in the MLS last season with 29 goals and was awarded the Most Valuable Player. Messi has scored nine goals in 11 matches for Inter Miami this season as he continues his fine form ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.