Messi's Inter Miami Contract

In July 2023, Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami after his contract with PSG expired, turning down a larger offer from Saudi Arabia. His two and a half year deal was reported to be worth up to $150 million including salary, signing bonus and equity.

MLS limits each club's spending on player wages through a salary budget. Under its designated player rule, only a small part of a star player's wages counts towards the budget, allowing Inter Miami to sign Messi within the league's rules.

The most notable feature of the deal is how Messi shares in the value he creates for the league. Apple, which signed a ten-year $2.5 billion deal to stream MLS, reportedly gives Messi a share of revenue from new MLS Season Pass subscribers, and more than 110,000 people signed up on the day of his debut. He also reportedly receives a share of any increase in Adidas's profits linked to his time in MLS and has an option to buy a stake in the club after his playing career.

The contract works much like an earn-out, with part of Messi's pay tied to the value he brings. As with his exit from Barcelona, the league's rules shaped the deal as much as the club did.