How much money does the winner of the Leagues Cup 2023 get? How does it compare?

On Friday 21 July, the 2023 Leagues Cup got underway. On Saturday evening, we will know our winner. The new tournament had been announced several months before talk emerged of a Lionel Messi-shaped infusion into Miami and Major League Soccer. And what an immediate impact he has made.

Messi effect raises Leagues Cup profile

And it was the Argentine megastar who got the Liga MX-MLS show off to the perfect start, stepping off the bench to make his debut for Inter Miami and holding back until the fourth added-on minute to strike home a stunning winner. It’s a free-kick that he makes look so easy, and his timing could not have been more spectacular. And he didn’t stop there, helping his team to the final and almost certainly walking away with the top scorer prize.

Stay tuned: all the news from the 2023 Leagues Cup

So, with Messi doing his thing, as well as plenty of other story lines, interest has grown across the tournament with all eyes now on the final between Nashville and Inter Miami. But what incentives are there for the players and teams involved to give it their all?

Limited Leagues Cup budget

Clearly the players are professionals and so pride and legacy come with the territory. We’ve already witnessed from the early tournament games that not an inch is being given. Then there are the automatic qualification places for the Concacaf Champions Cup for the top three teams, creating a chance to represent the Confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup Unfortunately, however, the prize money for the competition is someway short of others.

Let’s take the Copa Libertadores, for example. Yes, the CONMEBOL tournament has been running for some time (1960 to be precise) but its current winner receives a hefty $18 million. here’s how that breaks down.

This year’s Leagues Cup victor, on the other hand, will be paid just two million dollars.

UEFA Champions League tops the lot

Given its prestige, and the leagues and clubs involved, it is not surprising that the highest club level prize is awarded by the UEFA Champions League. The European continental winner receives $22 million.

Much smaller financial incentives are offered up for the African Champions League ($2.5 million) and the one in Asia ($4 million). It remains to be seen if next year’s Leagues Cup can up the ante.