T<\/span>The American sports world is bracing for a seismic shift. This Saturday, February 21st, MLS begins its season with 13 games, pitting defending champions Inter Miami, led by the incomparable Lionel Messi, against LAFC superstar Son Heung-min. <\/p>\nBut this year is not just another year. The 2026 season will include a six-week break from late May to mid-July to coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, this marks the final curtain call for the league’s traditional spring-to-fall format. Starting with the 2027-28 season, MLS will finally be on par with Europe’s powerhouses, moving to a summer-spring schedule.<\/p>\n
How do Inter Miami’s salaries stack up compared to the Giants?<\/h2>\n
Since signing a new three-year contract extension, Lionel Messi has cemented his role as the face of North American soccer. He is a key figure in the grand opening of Inter Miami’s new home, Miami Freedom Park, scheduled to open in April of this year. <\/p>\n
Messi remains the undisputed king of MLS compensation, earning a whopping $20.4 million annually, according to the latest Spotrac data. To put that in perspective, Opening Day rival Son Heung-min earned $11.2 million, while Atlanta’s Miguel Armin rounds out the top three with $7.9 million.<\/p>\n
But once off the soccer pitch, the “Messi effect” meets a harsh reality check. Compared to the big three in American sports: the NBA, NFL, and MLB, Messi’s annual salary seems surprisingly modest. <\/p>\n
Jayson Tatum’s massive 2025 contract extension averages $62.8 million, Dak Prescott leads the NFL at $60 million, and Shohei Ohtani’s historic (albeit long-delayed) contract averages $70 million.<\/p>\n
To really understand this gap, look at where Messi lands in the other tiers.<\/p>\n
In the NBA, Messi’s $20.4 million ranks around 87th, sandwiched between Alex Caruso ($20.2 million) and Dillon Brooks ($21 million). That would rank him 101st in the NFL behind trailing stars like Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and Mike Evans ($20.5 million). He ranks 72nd in MLB. Just behind Matt Olson ($21 million) but slightly ahead of Ian Happ ($20.3 million).<\/p>\n
This is an interesting irony. Despite four of the NBA’s top five earners spending more time in the trainer’s room than on the court last year, and the NFL’s top earners going just 17-19 in the postseason (Josh Allen’s eight wins lead), Messi provides the hardware. Despite being the highest-paid player in league history, he’s the bargain of the century.<\/p>\n
The real battle is off the field<\/h2>\n
Base salary numbers tell a story, but Forbes’ 2025 Off-Field Earnings list reveals where the real power lies. Messi may be “underpaid” by NFL standards on the field, but his global brand is something else entirely. With a lifetime deal with Adidas and major deals with PepsiCo and Mastercard, Messi earned $75 million from sponsorship deals alone last year.<\/p>\n
Competition is fierce in this field as well. The top off-field earners in 2025 are Stephen Curry and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom have amassed a whopping $100 million from their respective sports. LeBron James follows closely with $85 million, followed by Messi in fourth place. Kevin Durant ($50 million) rounds out the top five.<\/p>\n
Of course, the undisputed financial heavyweight remains Cristiano Ronaldo. With a total of $275 million in 2025, Ronaldo exists in a different stratosphere. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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