Top Ten Best Paid Players in MLS

Major League Soccer Player Association (MLSPA) publish their annual Salary report during spring. We are used to such transparency in North America but is pretty unusual in other soccer leagues. Even in the best world soccer leagues like Premier League, La Liga or Seria A we just guess the payrolls of players.

Top Ten Best-Paid Players in MLS

It would be surprising to see another name at the top of the salary ranking in MLS. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the man who can attract attention worldwide and it is no surprise he gets the highest compensation. The second place belongs to Michael Bradley and third to Jozy Altidore, both from Toronto FC. The Canadian club has three players in top10 and is the only club that has more than one player in top10.

Top Ten Best-Paid Players in MLS as of 1st June 2019

RankNameClubBase Salary
[in USD]
Total Compensation (Base Salary + Signing Bonus)
(Performance Bonuses not included)
[in USD]
1.Zlatan IbrahimovicLA Galaxy7 200 0007 200 000
2.Michael BradleyToronto FC6 000 0006 500 000
3.Jozy AltidoreToronto FC4 891 2506 332 250
4.Carlos VelaLAFC4 500 0006 300 000
5.Bastian SchweinsteigerChicago Fire5 600 0005 600 000
6.Ignacio PiattiMontreal Impact530 0004 443 333
7.Alejandro Pozuelo MeleroToronto FC3 800 0003 800 000
8.Wayne RooneyDC United3 500 0003 507 500
9.Josef MartinezAtlanta United3 000 0003 058 333
10.Nicolas LodeiroSeattle Sounders FC2 000 0002 502 500

Source: Salary Guide of MLSPA

Top Ten Best-Paid Players in MLS as of 1st May 2018

The current report brings interesting numbers again. Looking at the 10 best-paid players we see three players from Toronto FC. Other seven players are from seven different teams. It looks that money spent in Canada brought the wished goal and Toronto FC won the MLS last year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic payroll is more surprising. He is 26th best-paid player overall and 4th best in LA Galaxy. I hope his performance bonuses and marketing contracts will balance it as his presence in California gives soccer a big boost nationally.

RankNameClubBase SalaryTotal Compensation (Base Salary + Signing Bonus)
(Performance Bonuses not included)
1.Sebastian GovincoToronto FC5 600 0007 115 555.67
2.Michael BradleyToronto FC5 600 0006 500 000
3.Carlos VelaLAFC4 500 0006 292 500
4.Bastian SchweinsteigerChicago Fire6 100 000.086 100 000.08
5.Giovani dos SantosLA Galaxy4 250 0006 000 000
6.David VillaNew York FC5 610 0005 610 000
7.Jozy AltidoreToronto FC5 000 0005 000 000
8.Ignacio PiattiMontreal Impact500 000.044 713 333.37
9.Tim HowardColorado Rapids2 000 0002 475 000
10.Diego ValeriPortland Timbers2 320 0002 380 000

Source: Salary Guide of MLSPA

Leave a Comment