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Saturday, July 19, 2025

The Highest-Paid MLS Midfielders

  • Sergio Busquets leads the way as the highest-paid MLS midfielder.
  • Eight of the top 10 highest-paid midfielders make over $2 million.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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
RankPlayerTeamAnnual Compensation
1Sergio BusquetsInter Miami$8.5 million
T-2Riqui PuigLA Galaxy$4 million
T-2Charles GilNew England Revolution$4 million
4Hany MukhtarNashville SC$3.8 million
5Ryan GauldVancouver Whitecaps$2.9 million
6Diego RossiNashville SC$2.6 million
7Aleksey MiranchukAtlanta United$2.4 million
8Albert RusnákSeattle Sounders$2.15 million
9Pep BielCharlotte FC$1.96 million
10Marcel HartelSt. Louis City$1.8 million
11Diogo GonçalvesReal Salt Lake$1.65 million
12Robin LodMinnesota United$1.5 million
13Nemanja RadojaSporting KC$1.44 million
14Cristian RoldánSeattle Sounders$1.42 million
T-15João PauloSeattle Sounders$1.4 million
T-15Darlington NagbeColumbus Crew$1.4 million
17Kellyn AcostaChicago Fire$1.39 million
18Djordje MihailovicColorado Rapids$1.35 million
19Obinna NwobodoFC Cincinnati$1.31 million
20Eduard LöwenSt. Louis City$1.2 million
21Andrés CubasVancouver Whitecaps$1.05 million
22Felipe CarballoNY Red Bulls$1.02 million
23Erik ThommySporting KC$1 million
24Marco ReusLA Galaxy$960,000
25Paxton PomykalFC Dallas$950,000

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