Lionel Messi's Inter Miami contract: How much will Argentine earn in wages & will he be paid more than Cristiano Ronaldo?

Messi is reported to have agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami, with a 12-month option for 2026 included within those terms. A complicated agreement, which has reportedly seen Apple and Adidas contribute towards making the move possible that stands to benefit everyone in the long run, will see Messi earn a base salary alongside bonuses.

Messi’s contract is said to be worth between $125m-$150m (£100m-£120m), with MLS sponsors Apple and Adidas working on deals that will be based on the amount of revenue that the legendary South American helps to generate. There could also be an ownership stake in place for Messi, similar to the one given to David Beckham when he arrived in the league.

The Designated Player Rule was introduced by MLS in 2007 to help attract Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Beckham to the league. Each side is allowed three players on their roster that sit outside of the standard salary caps imposed by the division.

This gives teams the flexibility to make marquee signings on big contracts without impacting the financial structure of the American game. Messi will fill one of the spots at Inter Miami, although they have some work to do before his arrival in early July as Josef Martinez, Rodolfo Pizarro, and Gregore currently occupy the DP places at DRV PNK Stadium. It is likely that Gregore will be changed to a standard roster player to compensate.

While Messi is set to become the highest-earning player in MLS, his wages will still sit some way below that of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo and the record-setting contract that he committed to when joining Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr in January 2023.

The Portuguese superstar is earning around £177m ($221m) per year in the Middle East, with £62m ($77m) of that coming in annual base salary and the rest made up of image rights and commercial deals. Ronaldo’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s bid for 2030 World Cup hosting duties could net him a further £177m.

Indeed, Messi revealed after his Inter Miami announcement that he may have chosen to move to Arabia, had money been his motivation.

Messi will be jumping straight to the top of the MLS top earners chart, with some considerable distance set to be put between himself and the second-placed entry on that list. As things stand, former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri boasts the biggest paycheck in American soccer, with the Swiss star pulling in a little over $8.1m (£6.5m) with the Chicago Fire during the 2023 campaign.

Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne earns $7.5m (£6m), while Mexican striker Javier Hernandez – who has previously spent time with Manchester United and Real Madrid – nets around $7.4m ($6m) with the LA Galaxy.

Beckham, like Brazil icon Pele before him, helped to raise the profile of the American game when joining the LA Galaxy in 2007. The former England captain signed a five-year deal worth $32.5m (£26m). He was also offered revenue share – much like Messi – and is said to have earned $255m (£205m) from that agreement during his time in California.

Beckham also negotiated a deal that saw him become eligible to purchase a MLS franchise for just $25m (£20m) upon his retirement, with said option taken up when becoming a co-owner of Inter Miami – with that organisation now said to be worth upwards of $580m (£465m).