Comparison: Lionel Messi’s $12 Million Salary at Inter Miami vs. Rodrigo De Paul’s new contract

Lionel Messi has become the face of Major League Football since arriving in 2023, benefiting from a record salary of $12 million InterMiami. Now he shares the field with a good friend and teammate from the Argentina national team, Comparisons have emerged between the wages of the number 10 Rodrigo DePaul‘s new contract after his departure from Atlético Madrid.

In a surprise move during the 2025 summer transfer window, InterMiami completed the signing of Rodrigo De Paulwhose contract with Atlético Madrid expired at the end of the season. Despite being a regular starter, the Colchoneros opted to move the Argentine midfielder, initially sending him to the MLS for a six-month spell.

With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba leaving the club, Inter Miami freed up both salary cap space and financial flexibility, officially exercising the permanent transfer option on De Paul in December 2025. The fee, €15 million (nearly $18 million), made him the second most expensive signing in MLS history.

Now officially part of Inter Miami, De Paul joins the club’s Designated Players group, alongside Messi and newly signed Germán Berterame from Monterrey. His contract runs until December 2029, meaning the midfielder will remain with the Herons regardless of Messi’s future, as the Argentina captain’s contract expires in December 2028.

The salaries of Messi and De Paul

According to the MLSPA Salary Guide published in 2025, Messi remains the league’s highest-paid player with a base salary of $12 million per season at InterMiami. When endorsements and commercial partnerships are included, his total annual income increases $20,446,667.

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In contrast, the same salary guides are listed De Paul is well below Messi, with a base salary of $1.5 million. Including bonuses and additional compensation, his total income is $3.62 million. While De Paul ranks second among Inter Miami players in terms of total compensation, tied with Luis Suárez, he is still behind Messi by a wide margin, according to figures compiled by Capology.

The difference is especially striking when you compare it with De Paul’s revenues in Spain. Per Capology, the midfielder earned a gross annual salary of €6.67 million (approximately $7.77 million) under the four-year contract he signed with Atlético Madrid in 2021, a significant drop from his current deal with the Herons.