Inter Miami’s published salary data lists Lionel Messi’s 2026 base salary at $25 million and his guaranteed compensation at $28,333,333. Those are figures for Messi’s compensation under his MLS contract—not evidence that David Beckham personally pays him. The claim that Messi earns four times Salford City’s wage bill is not established by the available figures.
Messi’s published Inter Miami compensation
The MLS Players Association’s 2026 Salary Guide lists Messi at a $25 million base salary and $28,333,333 in guaranteed compensation. Its player data covers players under contract as of April 16, 2026.
These are different measures. Base salary is not the same as guaranteed compensation; the MLSPA guide explains the distinction in its salary guide definitions. When comparing Messi with another player or a club’s wage bill, specify which figure is being used.
How the figures compare with Messi’s 2024 salary listing
| Guide year and data date | Base salary | Guaranteed compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 2024; player data current as of April 25, 2024 | $12,000,000 | $20,446,667 |
| 2026; players under contract as of April 16, 2026 | $25,000,000 | $28,333,333 |
The 2024 amounts are from the MLSPA’s 2024 Salary Guide. The year matters: quoting the earlier listing as Messi’s current salary would give readers an outdated figure.
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Why “David Beckham pays Messi” is misleading
These published amounts describe Messi’s compensation under his Inter Miami/MLS deal. They do not establish that Beckham personally pays him. MLS also uses roster-budget rules, including Designated Player costs and allocation money. As a result, a player’s published compensation is not necessarily the same as the amount charged to a club’s salary budget. The league’s roster rules explain those mechanisms.
Is Messi’s compensation four times Salford City’s wage bill?
A June 24, 2025 article by Buzzine International described Salford City’s annual wage bill as about £4.5 million, attributing the estimate to Capology. The article is a secondary source; the underlying Capology estimate and the exact season it covers are not established here. See the Buzzine International report.
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That estimate is not enough to verify a four-times comparison. Messi’s figures are in US dollars and distinguish base salary from guaranteed compensation, while Salford’s reported estimate is in pounds and its scope and season are unclear. A defensible ratio would require matching the season, converting currencies using a stated date or method, and comparing equivalent definitions and coverage. No such like-for-like calculation is established by these figures.
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- Women's simple Inter Miami away soccer jersey showing off Messi's name and number
- REGULAR FIT: Wider at the body, with a straight silhouette
- CLASSIC COMFORT: Crewneck keeps its shape
- TEAM PRIDE: Inter Miami CF crest shows off your passion for the sport
- MESSI NAME AND NUMBER: Messi name and number on back
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- Men's simple Inter Miami away soccer jersey showing off Messi's name and number
- REGULAR FIT: Wider at the body, with a straight silhouette
- CLASSIC COMFORT: Crewneck keeps its shape
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- MESSI NAME AND NUMBER: Messi name and number on back
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