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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Messi and Busquets dominate Miami's wage bill</li><li>Suarez and Alba on low sums in comparison</li><li>Worth of Messi's deal overall is astronomical</li></ul>

Lionel Messi tops MLS salary list ahead of Lorenzo Insigne and Sergio Busquets with Inter Miami payroll now biggest in league history

The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-cm/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-first-lionel-messi-third-kylian-mbappe-forbes-highest-paid-athletes-chart-nba-nfl-superstars/blt2773c489e02ffa48" target="_blank">Inter Miami and Argentina superstar rakes in</a> $20.45 million (£25.8m) in total guaranteed compensation per year, according to data released by the <a href="https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide" target="_blank">MLS Players Association.</a> Messi's team-mate Sergio Busquets is third on the list with a salary of $8.77m (£6.9m), behind Toronto forward Lorenzo Insigne in second with guaranteed compensation of $15.44m (£12m). Busquets and Messi account for a whopping 70% of Inter Miami's total wage bill, a bill which is an MLS record. Fellow foreign stars Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are said to be on $1.5m (£1.1m) apiece, a very low total compared to their previous deals in Europe.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Inter Miami's current wage bill reportedly stands at $41.7m (£32m), which is more than double that of every team in MLS bar Toronto FC ($31.4m/£24.7m), Chicago Fire ($25.1m/£19.8m) and Nashville SC ($21.4m/£16.8m). Amazingly, MLS Cup holders Columbus Crew rank 21st with a payroll of just $15.19m (£11.9m).

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi's above number does not include all his other endorsements, such as the mega-money deals with Adidas, Fanatics, Apple and other MLS partners. If you include his equity stake in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-cm/lists/inter-miami-tata-martino-keylor-navas-transfer/bltdb42c6513b47e340" target="_blank">Inter Miami</a>, the 36-year-old's two-and-a-half year deal in Florida is worth around $125-150m (£98m-11m).

DID YOU KNOW?

Messi has been on fire in Miami this season, scoring nine goals and tallying 10 assists in MLS action. However, he will soon leave a gaping hole in the Herons' attack when he joins up with Argentina for the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/argentina-copa-america-2024-squad-lionel-scaloni/blte5db9c11deaa7a82" target="_blank">Copa America</a>, beginning with a warm-up friendly against Ecuador on June 9.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Lionel Messi tops MLS salary list ahead of Lorenzo Insigne and Sergio Busquets with Inter Miami payroll now biggest in league history | Goal.com Kenya

Lionel Messi is the top earner in Major League Soccer and he is making more than 25 entire team rosters from the division.