The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) has released its 2023 Salary Guide, featuring salary information for all MLS players under contract as of September 15, 2023.
The new No. 1? Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi, who formally joined the club in mid-July after departing French side Paris Saint-Germain.
The MLSPA guide contains players’ current annualized base salary and their annualized average guaranteed compensation. Below is a top 10, followed by info for other big summertime signings.
Player | Club | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $12,000,000.00 | $20,446,667.00 |
2. Lorenzo Insigne | Toronto FC | $7,500,000.00 | $15,400,000.00 |
3. Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire | $7,350,000.00 | $8,153,000.00 |
4. Chicharito | LA Galaxy | $6,000,000.00 | $7,443,750.00 |
5. Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | $3,125,000.00 | $6,295,381.00 |
6. Sebastián Driussi | Austin FC | $3,800,000.00 | $6,022,500.00 |
7. Héctor Herrera | Houston Dynamo | $4,750,000.00 | $5,246,875.00 |
8. Douglas Costa | LA Galaxy | $3,000,000.00 | $4,508,333.00 |
9. Christian Benteke | D.C. United | $4,250,000.00 | $4,432,778.00 |
10. Josef Martínez | Inter Miami | $4,000,000.00 | $4,391,667.00 |
Summertime signings
Messi isn't the only high-impact signing who arrived in MLS this summer. Minnesota United FC striker Teemu Pukki and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge also arrived on Designated Player deals.
Below are some of these newcomers' compensation, per the MLSPA (listed in order).
- Base Salary: $12,000,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $20,446,667.00
- Base Salary: $3,200,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $3,550,000.00
- Base Salary: $2,500,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $2,907,639.00
- Base Salary: $2,625,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $2,677,000.00
- Base Salary: $2,052,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $2,150,750.00
- Base Salary: $1,899,996.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $2,088,746.00
- Base Salary: $1,500,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $1,775,000.00
- Base Salary: $1,436,338.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $1,436,338.00
- Base Salary: $1,100,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $1,427,708.00
- Base Salary: $1,000,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $1,250,000.00
- Base Salary: $720,000.00
- Guaranteed Compensation: $1,127,600.00
