Inter Miami arrived at the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup as a curiosity, Lionel Messi’s traveling show set against Europe’s aristocracy. Three matches later, they are the tournament’s only Major League Soccer side still standing and have already banked $21 million in prize money—$10 million simply for showing up, another $4 million from a group-stage win and two draws, and a $7.5 million bonus for reaching the Round of 16, where Paris Saint -Germain await in Atlanta on Saturday.
That paycheck is historic for an MLS club and almost matches Messi’s guaranteed 2025 MLS salary of $20.4 million—a figure that outstrips the entire payroll of 22 other MLS teams. By comparison, every European giant that also topped its group—Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and PSG—has locked in a slightly larger minimum payout of $24 million, underscoring how close Inter Miami already are to the tournament’s financial ceiling.
The money behind the matchup
Cash, though, is only part of the story. Forbes values Inter Miami at $1.2 billion, the second-highest behind LAFC in MLS but just 16th worldwide. Their next opponent, PSG, sits seventh at $4.6 billion, while Real Madrid tops the planet for a fourth straight year at $6.75 billion. Strip away commercial deals and real-estate plays, and the gap widens further on the field.
| Rank | Club | Valuation (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | $6.75 billion |
| 2 | Manchester United | $6.60 billion |
| 3 | Barcelona | $5.65 billion |
| 4 | Liverpool | $5.40 billion |
| 5 | Manchester City | $5.30 billion |
| 6 | Bayern Munich | $5.10 billion |
| 7 | Paris Saint-Germain | $4.60 billion |
| 8 | Arsenal | $3.40 billion |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | $3.30 billion |
| 10 | Chelsea | $3.25 billion |
Transfermarkt’s June ranking places Inter Miami’s squad market value at $71 million, ranking 21st out of the 32 teams in the tournament. PSG’s roster is listed at $1.13 billion; Real Madrid and Manchester City sit even higher at $1.43 billion and $1.27 billion, respectively. In other words, Kylian Mbappé alone is valued by the same database at $194 million, nearly triple Miami’s entire squad. Across the event, Europe’s 12 representatives average $796 million in squad value, while the five North American clubs average $63 million—a 13:1 gap.
Miami’s prize money, then, is both a lifeline and a reality check. Should they upset PSG, another $13 million would flow into the club’s coffers, pushing the total take to over $34 million—roughly the amount Chelsea spent on teenage winger Kendry Páez last winter and still only half the annual wage bill of Manchester City. Yet Jorge Mas and David Beckham‘s ownership group have already shown how quickly injections of cash and star power can transform the franchise: the club’s valuation has risen 117 percent since Messi signed in 2023, according to Forbes.
| Stage | Earnings (USD) |
|---|---|
| Participation + Hosting | $10 million |
| Group-stage results (1W, 2D) | $4 million |
| Round of 16 qualification | $7.5 million |
| Total earned so far | $21.5 million |
| If Miami beats PSG (Quarterfinal bonus) | + $13.1 million |
| Potential total after QF | $34.6 million |
The question is whether this sudden World Cup windfall can accelerate Miami’s long-term roster build. MLS rules limit how quickly money can be deployed on salaries, but facilities upgrades, youth scouting and data infrastructure —areas where U.S. clubs traditionally lag—can be funded immediately. Even if Miami fall to PSG, their quarter-season of global exposure may prove just as valuable when the club courts new sponsors or renegotiates its kit deal next spring.
On the pitch, Messi’s influence has already narrowed the sporting gap more than any balance-sheet metric would predict. Still, Sunday’s Round of 16 clash presents a stark contrast: a $71 million squad facing one priced at $1.13 billion. Miami have turned heads by turning profits; now they must prove that money, after all, isn’t everything.
