Record-setting attendance numbers for the MLS last year speak volumes to the league’s growing popularity. Increasing revenue and more expansion lead to higher player salaries.
The exposure brought on by Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami has also helped salaries — particularly in the case of Sergio Busquets, Messi’s longtime Barcelona teammate. Busquets’ annual salary upon joining Messi at Inter Miami in 2023 is more than twice as high as any other midfielder in the MLS, at $8.5 million.
LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig is the second-highest-paid MLS midfielder, earning $4 million annually.
The 25-year-old also played for Barcelona. He’s the youngest player in the top 10 and the only one who has yet to play 100 career matches in the MLS.
Puig’s fellow Spanish international Charles Gil also earns $4 million annually from the New England Revolution.
Scottish international Stuart Armstrong is second with a $2.5 million salary. Armstrong signed a three-year contract with the Whitecaps last September, transferring from English second division side Sheffield Wednesday.
Fourth is Hany Mukhtar, who earns $3.8 million annually for Nashville. The German international spent time at Portuguese club Benfica early in his career and has been at Nashville since 2020.
Rounding out the top five is Ryan Gauld of the Seattle Sounders. The Scottish international also had a spell at a well-known Portuguese club early in his career, at Sporting CP. He’s played for the Sounders since 2021.
Only eight MLS midfielders earn over $2 million a year.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Midfielders in Major League Soccer
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid MLS midfielders. The list was compiled using data from Capology.
- Updated: May 28th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Annual Compensation |
| 1 | Sergio Busquets | Inter Miami | $8.5 million |
| T-2 | Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | $4 million |
| T-2 | Charles Gil | New England Revolution | $4 million |
| 4 | Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | $3.8 million |
| 5 | Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps | $2.9 million |
| 6 | Diego Rossi | Nashville SC | $2.6 million |
| 7 | Aleksey Miranchuk | Atlanta United | $2.4 million |
| 8 | Albert Rusnák | Seattle Sounders | $2.15 million |
| 9 | Pep Biel | Charlotte FC | $1.96 million |
| 10 | Marcel Hartel | St. Louis City | $1.8 million |
| 11 | Diogo Gonçalves | Real Salt Lake | $1.65 million |
| 12 | Robin Lod | Minnesota United | $1.5 million |
| 13 | Nemanja Radoja | Sporting KC | $1.44 million |
| 14 | Cristian Roldán | Seattle Sounders | $1.42 million |
| T-15 | João Paulo | Seattle Sounders | $1.4 million |
| T-15 | Darlington Nagbe | Columbus Crew | $1.4 million |
| 17 | Kellyn Acosta | Chicago Fire | $1.39 million |
| 18 | Djordje Mihailovic | Colorado Rapids | $1.35 million |
| 19 | Obinna Nwobodo | FC Cincinnati | $1.31 million |
| 20 | Eduard Löwen | St. Louis City | $1.2 million |
| 21 | Andrés Cubas | Vancouver Whitecaps | $1.05 million |
| 22 | Felipe Carballo | NY Red Bulls | $1.02 million |
| 23 | Erik Thommy | Sporting KC | $1 million |
| 24 | Marco Reus | LA Galaxy | $960,000 |
| 25 | Paxton Pomykal | FC Dallas | $950,000 |
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