Data: MLS Players Association; Note: Includes base salary, agent's fees and bonuses annualized over the term of each player's contract, including option years; Table: Axios Visuals
Real Salt Lake's total guaranteed compensation for its players in 2025 is $13.4 million, ranking 28th out of 30 franchises, per the MLS Players Association's salary guide.
The big picture: RSL was ahead of only St. Louis City's payroll last year — when City was just a year old.
This year, St. Louis far surpassed RSL, but Philly and Montreal fell behind.
Stunning stat: RSL's $13.4 million is about $7 million less than what soccer superstar Lionel Messi makes as the league's highest-paid player, per the MLS Players Association's latest salary guide.
Zoom in: Here's what RSL's highest-paid players make.