Lionel Messi remains highest-paid player in MLS as salaries revealed by players association

[p]The union's latest list of player salaries reflected the contract extension [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] signed with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a] in October which will keep him with the Florida outfit through the 2028 campaign.[/p][p]According to the figures Messi's base salary has doubled while overall the deal will see him make $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation.[/p][p]South Korea star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/son-heung-min/Mgg9oPeM/"]Son[/a], the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] captain who signed with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-fc/txUJt9AR/"]Los Angeles FC[/a] last August for a reported MLS record $26 million transfer fee, has a base salary of $10.36 million with total guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million.[/p][p]The salaries do not include income from endorsement deals, nor does Messi's compensation reflect his option to acquire a stake in the Florida franchise - co-owned by David Beckham - which he joined in 2023.[/p][embed guid="0c6077c1-90db-4d92-aab8-7ecfe765218e" url="https://x.com/MLSMoves/status/2054274336761192683?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 38-year-old Messi, who is expected to lead Argentina's World Cup title defense starting next month, has 59 goals in 64 MLS regular-season games with Miami. He led the league with 29 goals last season and was named Most Valuable Player for the second straight season.[/p][p]Messi's Inter Miami and Argentina teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-paul-rodrigo/AZ6TTjDC/"]Rodrigo De Paul[/a] is third on the least with $9.7 million in guaranteed compensation.[/p][p]Mexico's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lozano-hirving/buNjcqS5/"]Hirving "Chucky" Lozano[/a] is fourth on the list with $9.3 million despite the fact that he hasn't featured for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-diego-fc/EuGkBf33/"]San Diego[/a] since November.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-united/EPngUvhk/"]Atlanta[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/almiron-miguel/AwqEUHxT/"]Miguel Almiron[/a] rounds out the top five with guaranteed compensation of $7.9 million.[/p][p]Total league compensation was listed at $631 million, with the average guaranteed compensation $688,816 - an 8.9% rise from figures released last October.[/p]