With the recent signing of the Argentine superstar and World Cup champion Lionel Messi by Inter Miami, he has officially joined the team. At 35 years old, Messi, following the end of his contract with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, decided to join a Miami-based club in the United States.
Reports suggest that Messi turned down an offer of over $400 million from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal to sign a less lucrative contract in Miami. He inked a two-and-a-half-season deal with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, which is expected to earn him around $54 million in wages alone. In addition, he will also receive a share of the profits from his endorsement deals with popular brands Apple and Adidas.
Messi’s arrival in Miami not only brought a wave of excitement but also led to comparisons with other established players in Miami, including the NFL and NBA. Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins and Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat are the highest-paid players in their respective franchises, but how does their salary compare to Messi’s?
Tyreek Hill made headlines in the NFL in 2022 when he secured a trade to the Miami Dolphins after a highly successful stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hill signed a four-year contract worth a staggering $120 million with the franchise, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.
On an annual basis, Hill will receive $30 million, which is considerably less than Messi’s earnings in his first year in the United States. Hill’s maximum yearly salary, which will be in his final contract year, will amount to $43.9 million—still more than $10 million less than Messi’s earnings. While Hill may be the fastest player in the NFL, he has some ground to cover in terms of financial earnings to match Messi.
Another fellow Argentine from the same city as Messi is Jimmy Butler, who happens to be the highest earner for the Miami Heat franchise. In 2021, Butler signed a four-year extension worth a massive $184 million. His salary increases annually, and in the 2023-24 season, Butler is set to earn $45,183,960. However, this still falls short of Messi’s $54 million salary in wages alone.
Nevertheless, Butler will come very close to matching the Argentine World Cup winner in the final year of his contract during the 2025-26 season when he is slated to receive a salary of $52,413,394. Despite their lucrative deals, both Tyreek Hill and Jimmy Butler do not hold the title of the highest-paid player in Miami anymore, as Messi has claimed that honor following his blockbuster move.