How Messi's $20M salary exposes MLS competitive balance problems
Lionel Messi's $20.4 million salary highlights significant disparities in Major League Soccer's (MLS) salary structure. His compensation exceeds the combined payroll of 22 teams, raising concerns about competitive balance within the league. The Designated Player rule allows teams to sign high-profile players while circumventing the salary cap, leading to extreme salary inequalities.
- ▪Messi's guaranteed compensation surpasses the total payroll of 22 MLS teams.
- ▪The average guaranteed salary for MLS players is $594,390, making Messi's salary 34 times the league average.
- ▪Inter Miami's total payroll is $41.7 million, significantly higher than many other teams in the league.
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