LAFC’s Son second to Messi on MLS salary list

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min has become the second-highest paid player in Major League Soccer behind Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, according to salary figures released Wednesday by the MLS Players Association.

Son, who joined LAFC during the summer transfer window, will earn $11.2 million in guaranteed compensation this year. Messi remains the league’s top earner with $20.4 million in guaranteed salary, well ahead of the rest of the field.

The figures reflect only player salaries, marketing bonuses and agent fees, excluding any external commercial deals or performance-based incentives. Messi’s total income is significantly boosted by endorsement contracts — most notably with Adidas — and a revenue-sharing agreement with Apple, MLS’s broadcast partner.

According to Sportico, Messi could earn as much as $150 million over the life of his 2½-year contract with Inter Miami, which he recently extended through the 2028 season. The Argentine forward, who won the MLS Golden Boot this year with 29 goals in 28 matches, continues to be the face of the league both on and off the pitch.

Son’s contract with LAFC runs through 2027, with club options extending to 2029. The South Korean international has added attacking depth and international appeal to the reigning Western Conference champions, enhancing LAFC’s offensive rotation with his pace, creativity, and finishing quality.

Rounding out MLS’s top five earners are Messi’s teammate Sergio Busquets ($8.8 million), Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón ($6.1 million), and San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano ($6 million).

The league’s salary data, current as of Oct. 1, shows Inter Miami far outspending its rivals with a record $48.97 million in total guaranteed compensation following the midseason arrival of Rodrigo De Paul. LAFC ranked second at $30.1 million, while Atlanta United ($28.48 million), FC Cincinnati ($23.19 million), and the Chicago Fire ($23.11 million) rounded out the top five.

At the other end of the spectrum, CF Montréal reported the lowest payroll at $12.92 million, followed by FC Dallas ($13.15 million) and the Philadelphia Union ($13.43 million). The average team payroll across the league rose 7% from last year to $19.69 million, while the median spend climbed 8% to $18.01 million.

Toronto FC saw the sharpest decline in wage expenditure, dropping from $31.81 million in 2024 to $13.65 million this year, largely due to the departures of designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

League-wide, the average guaranteed base compensation for all players increased to $632,809, up 6.1% from 2024. The median salary rose nearly 10%, reflecting continued growth under MLS’s collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2027 season.

Son’s arrival and salary mark another sign of MLS’s growing ambition to attract world-class talent, following Messi’s high-profile move last year. Together, they represent a new era of global star power driving the league’s commercial and competitive expansion.