Congratulations to Messi! Winning the first place, Barça teammates followed, three or four unexpectedly
Internacional Miami has become a gathering place for football superstars. The team not only brings together the proud children of heaven, but also has many legendary players. Recently, they have successfully brought in football giants Lionel Messi and Barca meritorious player Sergio Busquets, and are working to sign the legendary 39-year-old Andres Iniesta. The two stars have already been among the local spotlights, and fans are expected to witness the reunion of Barça's Big Three in the city. So, can these superstars be in the spotlight again? Who will be the highest paid player in Major League Soccer 2023? What makes them unique? Here is the detailed ranking information!
1. Messi ($1,057,692)
Messi, rumored to be one of the highest-paid players in Major League Soccer history, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Miami International with an estimated annual salary of between $50 million and $60 million. Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, has won 34 major trophies for Barca, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. Messi also helped Paris Saint-Germain win two Ligue 1 titles. Last year, he led the Argentine national team to victory at the World Cup in Qatar, an important milestone for them in international football. Surprisingly, Messi turned down a two-season $1.3 billion contract offered by the Saudi club to join Internacional Miami. This year, he will join forces again with Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta to showcase his extraordinary prowess. Fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of the Argentine king of football on July 21.
2. Sergio Busquets ($Miami International, $192,307)
This year, Internacional Miami became the team with the most world-renowned players in Major League Soccer. Sergio Busquets is Barca's standout player, having played for Camp Nou for 15 years. The 34-year-old has played in more than 700 matches and has won 32 major trophies, including nine La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. Despite not having individual accolades, Busquets kept trying. He has signed a two-and-a-half-year high-salary contract with Internacional Miami and will join Messi in saving the bottom-ranked team in the East.
3. Sadio Shaqiri ($157,692)
Swiss winger Shaqiri is one of the players familiar to Premier League fans. He has been with the Chicago Fire since February 2022. Today, he is the backbone of the team, with an estimated annual salary of $6.2 million. During his time at Liverpool, Shaqiri won the team one Champions League title and one Premier League title. His speed, skill, and razor-sharp long-range ability breathed new life into the Chicago Flames.
4. Kaka (retired, previously awarded $149,231)
Brazilian legend Kaka has now joined the management of football since retiring in 2017. During his time at Orlando City, Kaka was the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer. He had a very successful career and was named World Footballer of the Year in 2007. During his time at AC Milan, Kaka helped the team win one Champions League, one Serie A title and one Club World Cup.
5. David Villa (retired, once awarded $131,923)
David Villa is one of the greatest strikers in the history of Spanish football. Having played for New York City from 2014 to 2018, he was one of the highest-paid players in Major League Soccer. Villa had a full career of honours, helping the Spanish national team win the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008. During his time at Barca, he won two La Liga titles and one Champions League.
With the addition of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Iniesta, the Miami International will be the focus of Major League Soccer. Fans are looking forward to seeing what these superstars can bring to the team and how this new chapter unfolds. Although their salaries in Major League Soccer pale in comparison to the European giants, the addition of these players will undoubtedly bring great attention and commercial value to the American football market.
