Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, is set to earn a guaranteed annual salary of $11,152,852 (approximately 166 billion Korean won) this season, according to the 2026 salary data released by the MLS Players Association on May 13 (local time).
The actual total annual income for Son could be higher, as the MLS calculation is based on base salary plus any guaranteed signing bonuses and bonuses spread over the contract term, as of April 16. Marketing bonuses and agent fees are included, but performance-based bonuses are not considered guaranteed. Additionally, individual compensation from team-related or sponsorship deals is not reflected in these figures.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami tops the MLS salary list with a guaranteed annual figure of $28,333,333 (approximately 423 billion Korean won)—about 2.5 times Son’s salary. Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami in October last year until 2028. Third place goes to Messi’s Inter Miami teammate, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who earns $9,688,320 this season.
