Top 10 Highest Paid MLS Players 2025 (Currently Ranked)

The Major League Soccer (MLS), despite being on the far side of the Europe-centric football world, has been under the spotlight for not only its ever-growing footballing activities but also for its rapidly growing valuation. The American Football League is among the most valuable football competitions in the world. As a result, it has attracted many top footballers from the European market and has eventually convinced them to land in the USA. Prominent players like Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Kaka, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, etc have all been part of the MLS.

Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain in last year's summer transfer window, is the latest addition to the roster of the league's star players’ list. His signing was followed by the signings of his former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez. Many argue that the players, on the cusp of retirement, seek new challenges away from the action-packed European football, while high salaries associated with these contracts also take center stage. By examining the current value of the MLS, we can understand the reason behind the popularity of the league among European and Latin American players. The current valuation of the USA tournament is around $1.2 billion, according to Forbes.

Inter Miami is the most valued side of the MLS, almost twice the worth of the second-placed Atlanta United. Almost all the 15 teams in the USA top flight have broken the banks to secure expensive talents from the transfer market. In this article, we'll discuss the 10 Highest paid players in the MLS, including the richest MLS player in 2025.

List of MLS Highest Paid Players

The table below consists of 10 players who earn the most in the rising league of the world, Major League Soccer. These players are ranked based on the salaries they received in the 2024/25 season of the league.

How we Ranked the MLS Highest Paid Players

The ranking of the highest paid players in MLS is primarily based on the salaries they get from their respective clubs in the 2024/25 season. We have used club official sites, media announcements, and reputable financial sites to verify the monetary values of the MLS players. Here are the additional factors apart from salary that cement the ranking of MLS highest paid players.

Salary: The primary ranking factor in determining the rankings of the MLS players is the yearly wage that they get from the clubs that have signed them. To maintain uniformity, we have excluded any variable payments to players like (bonuses, reward money and additional payments which is not recurring in nature).

Net Worth: We have used the player's net worth to give an insight to our readers on how much a particular player is worth and is that footballer is getting what he deserves with the given performance and the career left ahead of him.

Endorsements: Endorsements didn't have any impact on the rankings of highest paid MLS players, but they give an insight into how much a player earns from additional income streams. This will also provide our readers with an aggregate amount of money a player makes in a year while playing in the MLS.

Who are Highest Paid Players in MLS?

MLS is going to enter its 28th season this year, and the sudden surge of soccer popularity in the USA has taken the league to new heights. With players such as Messi and Suarez coming in, more talents from Europe are expected to follow suit. A league that was considered a league of retired players has transformed itself into one of the most promising leagues in the world. With a higher status now in the world, clubs are capable of inviting strong and reputable players to join the in the league. Let's check out the high earners of the American League.

10. Carles Gil - Spain

Carles Gil, a Spanish midfielder, has been the New England Revolution's creative playmaker since 2019. He also earned the prestigious MLS MVP award in 2021 for his performance in the competition. In 2024, the player has scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists. Despite the team's off-and-on form, Gil's vision remains unshaken, and time after time, he has proven why he is one of the best players in the Squad.

Carlos Gil earns around $4,000,000 annually and approx $76,923 weekly, which makes him one of the highest paid MLS player during the 2024/25 season. His net worth of $12,502,831 shows his earning capability beyond the pitch of football. At 32, he can make a sound amount of money for himself and the family. However, the player is heading towards career end and might have left with few years only; a significant growth in salary looks nearly impossible for the player.

9. Hugo Cuypers - Belgium

Hugo Cuypers, a Belgian forward, joined the MLS side Chicago Fire in the year 2024. He was quite quick to adapt the playing style of the team and became an important part of the Chicago Fire. Additionally, Cuypers gave some crucial contributions to the team's goals tally in the 2024/25 season by scoring 12 goals and assisting 2 times. His annual salary of $3,238,000 makes him one of the highest paid MLS players in the 2024/25 season.

However, Information about his net worth is not available in the public domain. Still, if we have to give a rough number, it will be around $5 million - $10 million. With the given performance, the player has the potential to switch clubs or ask for a raise in his salary. In both situations, it is visible that Hugo Cupyers is going to make big in the coming years compared to his existing wages.

8. Christian Benteke - Belgium

Christian Benteke is another Belgian striker in our list of highest paid MLS players. He joined MLS side DC United to continue his professional footballing career. At DC United the Christian Benteke was entitled to a salary of $4,250,000 annually, which makes it $81,731 weekly. With the given salary, the Belgian forward makes it into our list of highest paid players in MLS.

Christian Benteke has been a key player for DC United since 2022, and he has performed consistently, which is getting rewarded handsomely in monetary terms in return. With the given performance, the player is all set to retain himself as one MLS highest paid players. Benteke’s resurgence has justified D.C. United’s investment. His Golden Boot win highlights MLS’s ability to showcase veteran talent.

7. Hector Herrera - Mexico

Hector Herrera, a Mexican player who is also known for his midfield contributions to the team, the Houston Dynamo, is ranked 7th in our list of highest paid MLS players. Herrera earns approximately $108,333 per week, which adds up to $5,200,000 a year. However, he joined Liga MX side Toluca in the year 2025, leaving his former club Houston Dynamo.

We have included Hector in this list because he was part of the Houston Dynamo squad for the year 2025. Herrera had played 82 games for the Houston Dynamo in which he scored 8 goals and assisted 22 times. His salary only accounts for 1/3 of his net worth. His net worth of $18,000,000 is a testament to his earning capabilities beyond the football pitch.

6. Emil Forsberg - Sweden

Emil Forsberg, a Swedish playmaker, joined the New York Red Bulls in 2024 from RB Leipzig, a German club, where he won two prestigious DFB-Pokals. His debut MLS season produced 10 goals and 4 assists in 24 games, earning him club MVP honors. Forsberg ability to control the tempo of the game through his short and long articles makes him stand out from the rest of the players.

The Swedish player is known for his salary to which is around $5,400,000. In addition to that, he also has many endorsements and brand deals, which make his net worth $40,469,636. Forsberg’s arrival has boosted the club’s attacking setup and fan engagement. His contract is valid till 2026, and there are chances that the player might look for a new challenge afterwards.

5. Federico Bernardeschi - Italy

FC Toronto player Federico Bernardeschi comes at number 5 with his annual wages surpassing the $3,000,000 mark. His role was crucial in bringing the European playstyle to MLS. His 2025 campaign saw him score 4 goals and 3 assists in 15 appearances, showcasing his versatility on the wing. Bernardeschi’s dynamism is key to Toronto’s attacking strategy, which helps them dominate the opponent initially in the game. Signed till 2026, his contract highlights expectations for consistent output which he often delivered. Despite his contributions, Toronto’s lack of achievements puts pressure on Bernardeschi to deliver every time he is on the pitch for Toronto FC.

4. Sebastian Driussi - Argentina

Sebastian Driussi, an Argentine forward, has been one of Austin FC’s key players since joining in 2021 from Zenit St. Petersburg. In 2024, he scored 7 goals and added 3 assists, cementing his status as a fan favorite. His contract with Austin FC was till the year 2025. However, the player left for FC River Plate after the completion of the 2024 MLS Cycle. We have included Driussi because he was named in the squad of Austin FC 2025.

Driussi’s $6.7 million salary, fourth in MLS, underscores his value as a Designated Player with high skills and leadership qualities. However, details related to his net worth were very limited on the internet, with no credible sources. His $6 million salary at Austin FC was enough to rank him 4th in our list of highest paid players in MLS.

3. Sergio Busquets - Spain

Sergio Busquets, a Barcelona icon who joined Inter Miami in 2023 after winning all the domestic titles in the Blaugrana kit, brought unmatched midfield composure to the MLS. His 2025 season includes 3 assists in 15 games. He was the key man in Inter Miami's Supporters' Shield win, which added another trophy in his name.

His $8.5 million salary, the 3rd highest in MLS after Messi and Insigne, reflects his two-year, $17 million deal signed alongside Messi, which makes him one of the highest paid MLS players. Busquets' current contract with Inter Miami is set to expire in December 2025. It will be interesting to see where the next stop of Busquets will be at the age of 36,

2. Lorenzo Insigne - Italy

The Italian national shook the world with his decision to join the MLS side Toronto FC in the year 2022 after a glorious career in Serie A, including a 2012 Coppa Italia win. His pace and vision saw him score 4 goals and 5 assists in 2024, despite Toronto’s inconsistent season. Insigne’s leadership remains vital for the club as he is someone who likes to lead from the front.

Many critics raise questions about his salary by saying that he is getting more than he deserves, as the player failed to bring a trophy to the BMO Stadium. His annual salary of $7,500,000 makes him stand behind Lionel Messi in terms of highest paid MLS players. His net worth of $84,421,355 makes him one of the wealthiest Italian footballers in recent times, thanks to endorsements and brand deals.

1. Lionel Messi - Argentina

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player ever, joined Inter Miami in July 2023 after a catastrophic deadline day event at Camp Nou, transforming the MLS’s global visibility. His 2025 season saw him score 10 goals and provide 5 assists in 13 games so far. His last season's performance earned him the MLS MVP award. His presence has not just boosted the club's global presence but also attracted several big players like Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and many more.

His annual salary of $12,000,000 and weekly salary of $230,769 make him the richest MLS player in 2025. His contract with Inter Miami is set to expire in December 2025. It will be interesting to see whether the GOAT will hun his boots or go back to Europe for his final phase in his career.