Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world with some of the highest-paid athletes. Major League Soccer hasn’t had the highest-paid players historically, but it’s catching up to other leagues worldwide.
Lionel Messi leads the way as the highest-paid MLS player of 2024. He signed a ground-breaking deal with Inter Miami in July of 2023. The deal came seven months after leading his native country Argentina to its third World Cup win.
The former Barcelona star made an instant impact. He helped struggling Inter Miami win their first trophy, The Leagues Cup. Messi’s $12 million annual salary is almost double the next closest earner.
Lorenzo Insigne takes the runner-up spot among the highest-paid MLS players. He earns $7.5 million as the premier forward for Toronto FC.
Xheridan Shaqiri arrived in Chicago in 2022 and has commanded a spot among top earners since. He signed a 1-year deal for $7.35 million that expires in December 2024, making him the third highest-paid player.
Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera stars for the Houston Dynamo as their highest-paid player. His $4.75 million annual salary puts him fourth on the list.
Fifth among the highest-paid players, Christian Benteke earns $4.25 million annually with DC United. Beneteke arrived in Washington DC in 2022. He spent the majority of his career playing in England’s Premier League as a forward.
It pays to score.
60% of the players on the list, 15 out of 25, are forwards. Nine players play in the midfield.
Only one defender made the top 25 highest-paid MLS players.
Walker Zimmerman, a center-back with Nashville SC, lands right at 25 on the list. He earns $1.8 million in annual salary. He earns close to $300,000 more than the next highest-paid defender.
Ranking the Highest Paid Major League Soccer Players
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid MLS players, based on data from Capology.
- Updated: May 17, 2024
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Forward | Inter Miami | $12 million |
| 2 | Lorenzo Insigne | Forward | Toronto FC | $7.5 million |
| 3 | Xheridan Shaqiri | Forward | Chicago Fire | $7.35 million |
| 4 | Hector Herrera | Midfielder | Houston Dynamo | $4.75 million |
| 5 | Christian Benteke | Forward | DC United | $4.25 million |
| 6 | Sebatian Driussi | Midfielder | Austin FC | $3.8 million |
| 7 | Carles Gil | Midfielder | New England Revolution | $3.25 million |
| 8 | Teemu Pukki | Forward | Minnesota United | $3.2 million |
| 9 | Federico Bernardeschi | Forward | Toronto FC | $3.125 million |
| 10 | Hany Mukhtar | Midfielder | Nashville SC | $2.9 million |
| 11 | Diego Rossi | Forward | Columbus Crew | $2.625 million |
| 12 | Cucho Hernández | Forward | Columbus Crew | $2.6 million |
| 13 | Sam Surridge | Forward | Nashville SC | $2.5 million |
| 14 | Raul Ruidiaz | Forward | Seattle Sounders | $2.472 million |
| 15 | Ryan Gauld | Midfielder | Vancouver Whitecaps | $2.4 million |
| 16 | Alan Pulido | Forward | Sporting FC | $2.2 million |
| 17 | Denis Bounaga | Forward | Los Angeles FC | $2.083 million |
| 18 | Saba Lobjanidze | Forward | Atlanta United | $2.052 million |
| 19 | Luciano Acosta | Midfielder | FC Cincinnati | $1.94 million |
| 20 | Mateusz Klich | Midfielder | DC United | $1.9 million |
| 21 | Cristian Arango | Forward | Real State | $1.89 million |
| 22 | Evander da Silva Ferreira | Midfielder | Portland Timbers | $1.88 million |
| 23 | Kevin Cabral | Forward | Colorado Rapids | $1.8 million |
| 24 | Darlington Nagbe | Midfielder | Columbus Crew | $1.8 million |
| 25 | Walker Zimmerman | Defender | Nashville SC | $1.8 million |
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