Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami salary: Jorge Mas explains how MLS club pays $80m star

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami salary has been revealed by owner Jorge Mas, who has explained how the MLS franchise can afford the wages of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi, 38, signed a new three-year contract with Inter Miami in 2025, tying him to the club until 2028 and effectively binding the rest of his playing days to the franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham.

Mas has revealed that Messi receives between $70 million and $80m per year from the club via equity rights and player compensation.

Sponsorship fuels Messi’s lavish Inter Miami wages

Inter Miami have to have a different structure in terms of their franchise to help fund deals for elite players such as Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, Mes said.

In particular, the Florida are reliant on commercial deals, which account for around 55% of their club revenue. This is because their media rights offer just 2% of their revenue.

“The reason that I need to have sponsors and for them to be world class is because players are expensive,” he said, according to quotes from Bloomberg.

“I pay Messi – worth every penny – but it’s $70 to $80 million a year. Across everything.”

Messi vs Ronaldo: How do their wages compare?

Despite Messi’s enormous deal with Inter Miami, his contract pales in comparison to that of his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo’s deal is worth more than $400m with the club – around twice as much as the total value of Messi’s three-year deal in MLS.

The World Cup winner, though, is set to receive a stake in an MLS team when he hangs up his boots, which could provide a lucrative earner for the Argentine in the future.

Messi’s dramatic start to the season

Messi has made an action-packed start to the MLS season with Inter Miami.

Following a 3-0 road defeat to LAFC on the opening weekend of action, the Herons bounced back by winning their derby clash 4-2 with Orlando, coming from two down at the break to get the win.

In between those matches, Messi and Inter Miami were involved in a chaotic friendly against Independiente in Puerto Rico and also paid a controversial visit to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House.

Next up for both is a third road match to start the MLS campaign, this against DC United.

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