Lionel Messi more than doubled his salary to $25 million (approx. Rs 257 crore) in his new contract with Inter Miami and earns more more than twice as much as the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-min. Messi’s new contract includes $25 million in base salary and $28,333,333 (approx. Rs 267 crore) in guaranteed compensation, the MLS Players Association said Tuesday in its first release of 2026 salaries. Miami’s $54.6 million payroll is more than $20 million higher than LAFC, which is second at $32.7 million, and nearly five times as much as Philadelphia’s league-low $11.7 million. Miami’s payroll is up from $46.8 million at the start of last season.

Toronto cut payroll to $21.4 million from $34.1 million at the start of 2025, and LAFC boosted its spending to $32.7 million from $22.4 million.

Total league compensation was $631 million and the average guaranteed compensation of $688,816 on April 16 was up 8.9% from $632,809 as of last Oct. 1.

Messi’s initial MLS contract, agreed to in July 2023, included a $12 million base salary and annualized guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667. Messi agreed last October to a three-year contract through the 2028 season, then led the team to its first MLS title.

An attacker who turns 39 next month, Messi is captain of defending World Cup champion Argentina and is expected to play in his sixth World Cup. Messi has 59 goals in 64 regular-season games with Miami, including nine in 11 matches this season. He led MLS with 29 regular-season goals last season and won his second straight MVP award.

His salary figures are for his MLS contract and include any marketing bonus and agent’s fees but do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.

Son is second at $10,368,750 in base salary and $11,152,852 in total compensation, the same as his figures last season. The 33-year-old winger joined LA last August.

Midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, who signed with Miami last summer, is third at $7,569,000 in salary and $9,688,320 in total compensation, followed by Atlanta winger Miguel Almirón ($6,056,000, $7,871,000), San Diego winger Hirving Lozano ($6 million, $9,333,333), New York Red Bulls winger Emil Forsberg ($5,405,000, $6,035,625), Nashville forward Sam Surridge ($5.27 million, $5,933,000), LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig ($5,125,000, $5,792,188), Vancouver attacker Thomas Müller ($5,000,004, $5,152,504) and Chicago winger Jonathan Bamba ($5 million, $5,581,806).

Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson topped MLS players in contention for spots on the U.S. World Cup roster at $3.5 million in base salary and $3.95 million in total compensation, followed by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner ($1,776,136, $1,942,886), Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan ($1,645,000, $1,766,000), Charlotte midfielder Tim Ream ($1 million, $1,127,750), Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte ($900,000, $1,032,083), Columbus left back/winger Max Arfsten ($800,000, $895,000), New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese ($675,000, $795,833), Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano ($525,000, $574,000), Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna ($450,000, $500,833), Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter ($480,000) and Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady ($250,000, $348,333).

Newcomers to the league include Toronto forward Josh Sargent ($3.21 million, $5,265,667), San Jose forward Timo Werner ($3,738,872, $4,268,039), Salt Lake winger Morgan Guilavogui ($2.2 million, $2,225,500), Houston forward Guilherme ($1,528,572, $1,925,230), LAFC midfielder Stephen Eustáquio ($1.8 million), D.C. forward Louis Munteanu ($1.19 million, $1,634,100) and Minnesota midfielder James Rodríguez ($684,000).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

Nigeria international goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has expressed her joy after helping Brighton & Hove Albion Women F.C. reach the Women’s FA Cup final following a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Liverpool Women F.C.

Brighton produced a stunning fightback in the thrilling semi-final clash after recovering from a two-goal deficit to secure a historic place at Wembley.

Liverpool started brightly and went ahead in the 11th minute through O’Sullivan before Beata Olsson doubled the lead in the 22nd minute to make it 2-0 for the hosts.

Brighton responded quickly as Manuela Vanegas scored in the 23rd minute to reduce the deficit and revive her side’s hopes before halftime.

After the break, Brighton continued to push forward and found the equaliser in the 54th minute through Madison Haley, setting up a tense finish to the encounter.

With the match heading towards extra time, Nadine Noordam scored a dramatic late winner to complete the remarkable comeback and send Brighton into the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.

Reacting after the memorable victory, Nnadozie celebrated the achievement on her official X account.

“We are going to Wembley. Straight into the FA Cup finals. Super proud of this team. I give God the glory,” she wrote.

The achievement adds another major highlight to Nnadozie’s impressive debut season in England following her move from Paris FC Féminines in 2025.

The Super Falcons goalkeeper has quickly become one of Brighton’s key players, earning praise for her brilliant saves, calmness under pressure and commanding presence in defence.

Nnadozie has also recorded several clean sheets this season and was recently nominated for the Barclays Women’s Super League Save of the Season award after an outstanding save against Liverpool earlier in the campaign.

Madhav Tiwari (BCCI Photo)

DHARAMSHALA: Madhav Tiwari still remembers how tiring bowling used to feel. As a 13-year-old kid in Indore, newly introduced to leather-ball cricket after changing schools, batting was the only thing that truly excited him. Bowling, in comparison, felt like labour. “I really liked batting. I wanted to become a batsman. Bowling was very tiring. You have to use your body a lot. I find it easy to bat. You can bat for as long as you want,” Tiwari told TOI after scripting Delhi Capitals’ thrilling three-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Dharamshala on Monday.