Lionel Messi's decision to swap European football for Inter Miami of Major League Soccer sent shockwaves around the world of football.
The all-time great refused to succumb to the allure of Saudi Arabia and instead opted to continue his career in the States after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Messi has the capacity to dominate at the highest level and for many it's a shame to see him exit Europe in favour of MLS.
Nevertheless, the arrival of Messi is the most major of coups for American soccer and he is poised to join Eastern Conference side Inter Miami who are in horrendous shape and desperately need Messi's magic to reignite their campaign. However, it's not yet clear when he'll officially join the club.
The player's decision to switch Paris for Miami was certainly a surprise considering the mammoth offer he received from Al-Hilal, but his reported salary with the MLS club certainly won't leave him cash shy.
Here's how Messi's salary with Inter Miami compares to his new teammates.
How much will Lionel Messi earn at Inter Miami?
Messi could've brought in a whopping salary worth $440m (£344m) had he decided to join 18-time Saudi Pro League winners Al-Hilal this summer, but the 2022 World Cup-winner instead opted to take his talents to more familiar surroundings.
Messi owns property in Miami and his family are regular visitors of The Magic City.
Although life at Inter Miami perhaps won't quite be as luxurious as his holidays to South Florida (the club boast the lowest average attendance in MLS with the club's PNK Stadium holding a mere 19,100 people), Messi will reportedly be taking in a huge salary of $54m (£43m).
Such a figure means he will comfortably emerge as the highest-paid player in MLS. Chicago Fire's Xherdan Shaqiri's salary was the previous highest at $8,153,000.
How does Lionel Messi's salary compare to Inter Miami teammates?
Questions have been raised regarding how Inter Miami have been able to finance a move for the greatest footballer of all time given MLS' strict salary caps and whatnot. Moreover, the Herons have already filled their three 'Designated Player' (DP) spots. The salaries of these three players can exceed the league's salary cap.
Gregore ($725,000 base salary), Rodolfo Pizarro ($3,050,000) and Leonardo Campana ($550,000) are the club's DPs for 2023. However, Inter Miami can take one of these players off the designation to a regular spot on the roster in order to make room for Messi. This will likely be the lowest-earner of the three, Gregore.
Messi's reported salary of $54m far exceeds the club's current highest-earner, Josef Martinez, who is bringing home a $4,000,000 base salary for 2023. The 30-year-old has scored the 11th-most goals in MLS history, and he became first player to win All-Star, League and MLS Cup MVP honours the same season (2017 with Atlanta United).
Martinez is one of two current players whose base salary exceeds $1,000,000. The other is the aforementioned Pizarro; a creative midfielder who has 37 caps for Mexico.
READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI'S MOVE TO INTER MIAMI
This article was originally published on 90min as Lionel Messi's salary compared to Inter Miami teammates.
