The MLSPA (Major League Soccer Players Association) has released its latest salary data, revealing exactly how MLS clubs allocate their roster budgets — and the numbers highlight just how far ahead Inter Miami CF is when it comes to player spending.
Inter Miami’s Record-Setting Payroll
According to the updated salary figures, Inter Miami spends a staggering 72% of its total roster budget on Designated Players (DPs) — the category used for big-name stars whose salaries exceed the MLS cap. That trio includes Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez, whose combined salaries surpass the entire payrolls of nearly every other MLS team.
In fact, the chart shows that Inter Miami’s total payroll exceeds $50 million, dwarfing that of second-place Toronto FC and other high-spending clubs like LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and Nashville SC. Messi’s reported $20.4 million annual compensation alone makes him the highest-paid player in MLS history — and a key factor in Miami’s league-leading expenditure.
How MLS Clubs Allocate Salaries
The MLSPA data divides spending into several categories:
- Designated Players (DPs) — high-value stars exempt from standard salary caps.
- U22 Initiative Players — young international players under age 22 signed on budget-friendly deals.
- TAM Players — “Targeted Allocation Money” players used to boost mid-tier salaries.
- Homegrown Players — local academy talents.
- Rest of Roster — all remaining senior and supplemental players.
While most MLS clubs spread spending more evenly across categories, Miami’s DP-heavy model is unique. For example, LAFC, Atlanta United, and Seattle Sounders all have a more balanced approach, investing between 30–50% of their payrolls in DPs, with the rest going toward TAM and developmental players.
Big Spenders vs. Budget Builders
- Top spenders: Inter Miami, Toronto FC, LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Nashville SC.
- Mid-tier balance: LAFC, Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, Austin FC.
- Smaller markets: St. Louis City SC, Real Salt Lake, and FC Dallas rely more on homegrown and TAM players rather than superstar contracts.
The graphic makes clear that while a few clubs dominate in cash outlay, others rely on system development, scouting, and academy investment to remain competitive.
What It Means for MLS
Inter Miami’s unprecedented payroll signals a new era for Major League Soccer, one where global stars like Messi dramatically alter the league’s financial landscape. Yet the diversity in spending strategies also shows MLS’s growing complexity — where some teams invest heavily in star power, and others in long-term sustainability.
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will remain on Miami — not just for their on-field performance, but for how their financial model reshapes the economics of MLS for years to come.