{
  "id": 14172557,
  "title": "MLS salary rankings show why Lionel Messi contract is a big deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/mls-salary-rankings-show-why-lionel-messi-contract-is-a-big-deal",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T10:05:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mls-salary-rankings-show-why-100555741.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2026, the typical MLS player earns a median salary of $350,000, which is significantly lower than the average guaranteed compensation of $686,000. The average is inflated by a handful of high-earning players, including Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, whose $28.3 million guaranteed compensation accounts for 4.5% of all guaranteed compensation in the league. Messi's salary boosts the league's average by approximately $30,000. The league's reserve minimum salary is $88,025, earned by just 59 players, while the senior minimum salary is $113,400 for 2026. Only 28.1% of MLS players earn more than the average guaranteed compensation, with the top 1.1% of players accounting for 15.2% of the league's total guaranteed compensation.",
  "summary": "Just 10 players take 15.2% of MLS guaranteed compensation. See Lionel Messi's earnings, the median salary, team payrolls and 20 years of pay growth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}