The American sports landscape is bracing for a seismic shift. This Saturday, February 21st, the MLS kicks off its season with a 13-game slate that features the defending champions, Inter Miami, led by the incomparable Lionel Messi, facing off against LAFC's superstar Son Heung-min.
But this isn't just another year. The 2026 season includes a massive six-week break from late May to mid-July to accommodate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Furthermore, this marks the final curtain call for the league's traditional spring-to-autumn format. Starting in 2027-28, MLS will finally align with the European giants, transitioning to a summer-to-spring schedule.
How Inter Miami's Payroll Stacks Up Against the Giants
Since signing his new three-year extension, Lionel Messi has solidified his role as the face of North American soccer. He is the centerpiece for the grand opening of Inter Miami's new home, Miami Freedom Park, which is set to open doors this April.
According to the latest Spotrac data, Messi remains the undisputed king of MLS compensation, pulling in a staggering $20.4 million annually. To put that in perspective, his opening-day rival, Son Heung-min, earns $11.2 million, while Atlanta’s Miguel Almirón rounds out the top three at $7.9 million.
However, once you step outside the soccer pitch, "The Messi Effect” meets a hard reality check. Compared to the big three of American sports, the NBA, NFL, and MLB, Messi’s salary looks surprisingly modest.
Jayson Tatum's massive 2025 extension carries an average of $62.8 million, Dak Prescott leads the NFL at $60 million, and Shohei Ohtani’s historic (though heavily deferred) deal averages $70 million.
To really understand the gap, look at where Messi would land in those other hierarchies:
- In the NBA: Messi’s $20.4M would rank him around 87th, sandwiched between Alex Caruso ($20.2M) and Dillon Brooks ($21M).
- In the NFL: He would sit at 101st, trailing stars like Saquon Barkley ($20.6M) and Mike Evans ($20.5M).
- In the MLB: He would be the 72nd highest earner, just behind Matt Olson ($21M) but slightly ahead of Ian Happ ($20.3M).
It's an intriguing irony: while four of the top five NBA earners spent more time in the trainer’s room than on the court last year, and the NFL's top earners have a combined postseason record of just 17-19 (led by Josh Allen’s 8 wins), Messi is delivering hardware. He’s the bargain of the century, despite being the highest-paid player in his league’s history.
The Real Battle Outside of the Field
While the base salary figures tell one story, the Forbes “Off-Field Earnings" list for 2025 reveals where the true power lies. Messi might be “underpaid” by NFL standards on the pitch, but his global brand is a different beast entirely. With a lifetime Adidas contract and massive deals with PepsiCo and Mastercard, Messi hauled in $75 million in endorsements alone last year.
Even in this arena, the competition is fierce. The 2025 list for off-field earnings was topped by Stephen Curry and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom banked a cool $100 million away from their respective sports. LeBron James followed closely at $85 million, with Messi taking the fourth spot. Kevin Durant ($50M) rounded out the top five.
Of course, the undisputed financial heavyweight remains Cristiano Ronaldo. With a total take-home of $275 million in 2025, Ronaldo exists in a different stratosphere.
