Messi is the top earner in the USA, former Reds winger better than Busquets and Alba

Of all sports which came from across the Atlantic, NBA league seems to be the most popular one. NFL is slowly but surely getting more attention while the Americans, on the other side, are trying to ‘squeeze in’ football, or soccer as they call it, into the list of most popular sports in the USA. As the next World Cup will be organized in North America, the Americans are also working on the popularization and promotion of football. The influx of stars is increasing, therefore the league is more attractive to follow, and the first name is without a doubt Lionel Messi.

Messi will not go on loan: I am going to Argentina for the holidays to rest

The Argentinian easily put an end to the unsuccessful episode in Paris Saint-Germain and signed for Inter Miami. He resisted the call from the Middle East, did not follow the path of the majority, but became the leader of the great migration of aces to the MLS league and the highest paid player in it. Everything is transparent, the salaries of all players are public, and Lionel Messi is ahead of everyone. Salaries are divided into two categories: one is base and the other is guaranteed earnings. Signing bonuses and marketing rights are included in that part of the income, but not the part related to goals, assists, number of appearances... And one detail is extremely important, and that is that the sums are in gross amount.

So, Lionel Messi has a guaranteed salary of 20,446,667 dollars, however, he doesn't get that much money. Part goes to paying taxes. The Argentinian can only be matched by Lorenzo Insigne with 15,400,000 and no one else. They are ahead of everyone by far. The third is Xherdan Shaqiri with a guaranteed salary of 8,153,000 dollars. Javier Hernández and Federico Bernardeschi are also at the top, and Sebastian Driusi, Hector Herrera, Douglas Costa, Christian Benteke and Joseph Martinez are among the ten highest paid players in the American Professional League. It is interesting that Messi's teammates from Inter Miami and Barcelona are not even close to that group. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba earn a pittance against the Argentinian magician. The midfielder is guaranteed 1,775,000 and the left back 1,250,000.

HIGHEST PAID MLS LEAGUE PLAYERS (GUARANTEED SALARY):

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – 20,446,667

Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto) – 15,400,000

Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) – 8,153,000

Javier Hernandez (LA Galaxy) – 7,443,750

Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto) – 6,295,381

Sebastian Driusi (Austin) – 6,022,500

Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo) – 5,246,875

Douglas Costa (LA Galaxy) – 4,508,333

Christian Benteke (DC United) – 4,432,778

Joseph Martinez (Inter Miami) – 4,391,667

***NOTE: salaries are in dollars