Lionel Messi earned more than all the payrolls of 22 other MLS teams in 2024

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi earned more than all the payrolls of 22 other Major League Soccer teams, and Olivier Giroud has $3,675,000 in total annualized compensation based on the contract he signed to join Los Angeles FC in July.

The Major League Soccer Players Association released its salary update on Thursday and Messi’s base salary of 12 million dollars and 20,446,667 dollars Inter Miami’s total compensation remained the same as in the initial listing in May.

These figures cover what Messi receives from his agreement with MLS, which runs through the 2025 season, including any marketing bonuses and agent fees.

They do not represent any additional agreement with the team or its affiliates, nor any performance bonus.

Average guaranteed compensation increased 9.8% to $596,226 from $543,207.

Miami, the regular-season Supporters Shield league champion, led the league with a record payroll of $41.7 million, double that of all but Toronto ($31.8 million), Los Angeles FC ($22.1 million), LA Galaxy ($22 million) and Nashville ($21.9 million). ).

Players from Cincinnati ($21 million) and Houston ($20.5 million) He also added more than Messi.

Montreal ($11.4 million), Philadelphia ($13.8 million) and Dallas ($13.9 million) are among the lowest payrolls.

Giroud, a 38-year-old striker, arrived in Los Angeles in July on a free transfer from AC Milan. He has an annualized salary of $2.8 million for 2024.

Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets ranks second in the league in salary with $8,499,996 and has $8,774,996 in total compensation.

Toronto winger Lorenzo Insigne has a salary of $7.5 million and total compensation of $15.4 million.

Other notable players who joined MLS during the summer transfer window included Houston forward Ezequiel Ponce ($2.56 million salary, $2,822,200 total compensation), St. Louis midfielder Marcel Hartel ($1,797,600, $2,183,113) , Atlanta midfielder Alexey Miranchuk ($2.4 million, $3,685,441), Salt Lake midfielder Diogo Gonçalves ($1.65 million, $1,797,108), Minnesota forward Kelvin Yeboah ($1,225,000), New York Red Bulls midfielder Felipe Carballo ($1.02 million, $1,169,777), Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem ($1.08 million, $1,205,675), Austin winger Osman Bukari ($1 million) and LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus ($960,000, $1,216,667).

Among the Americans returning to MLS were Colorado right back Reggie Cannon ($750,000, $841,500) and Charlotte defender Tim Ream ($500,000, $577,500).

Former New England forward Jozy Altidore was listed as an MLS player in the pool with a salary of $1,683,750 and total compensation of $2,242,574. Former Toronto player Michael Bradley was listed as retired with a salary and total compensation of $725,000.