MLS is continuously growing in popularity. The arrival of players like Lionel Messi, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Sergio Busquets has helped to revolutionize football in America.
24 out of 29 MLS clubs have seen an increase in season ticket sales since last year and the arrival of big names have played a significant part in it.
Today let us take a look at the top 10 highest-paid players in MLS.
10. Carles Gil – New England Revolution
Carles Gil joined New England Revolution in December 2019 and earns $4.4 million annually. He helped Revolution to reach the playoff in his first season scoring 10 goals and providing 14 assists. He was also named The Newcomer of the Season.
This season he has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in 17 appearances. Gil recently signed a contract extension with the club that would keep him at Revolution until 2026 with an option to extend until 2027.
9. Hany Mukhtar – Nashville
With 23 goals and 11 assists in 2022, Mukhtar was the MLS 2022 Golden Boot winner and the MLS MVP. In 2021, he was named in the Best XI of the Year. He is again wrapping up big numbers in the 2024 season and earns an annual salary of $5.2 million.
In his 21 appearances this season, he has scored 6 goals and assisted another 6 and is en route to becoming the most valuable player for Nashville this season.
8. Hector Herrera – Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo signed Hector Herrera in 2022. Herrera instantly became the club’s highest earner with an annual salary of $5.2 million. Last season he provided 13 assists and scored 4 goals to take Dynamo to the playoffs.
Hector Herrera’s signing has made Houston a title-winning club and his importance is invaluable for the club.
7. Emil Forsberg – New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls signed Emil Forsberg in December 2023. He signed a three-year contract with the club which would keep him at the Bulls until 2026. He earns an annual salary of $6 million.
This season, he has scored 6 goals, provided 3 assists, and is the regular starter for Sandro Schwarz’s men.
6. Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto
The Italian forward is enjoying his time in the MLS scoring 8 goals and 4 assists in 18 matches this season. He reportedly earns an annual salary of $6.2 million. Bernardeschi scored his first MLS hat trick in Toronto FC’s 5-1 demolition of CF Montréa.
Bernardeschi also became the second player in Canadian Classique history to score a hat trick after Ayo Akinola in July 2020.
5. Sebastian Driussi – Austin
Sebastian Driussi joined Austin in the summer of 2021 and is the all-time leading goal scorer of the club. He reportedly earns 6.7 million as his base salary.
He finished as the club’s leading scorer in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This season he has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists. He recently signed a contract extension that would keep him at the club until 2025.
4. Xherdan Shaqiri – Chicago Fire
Xherdan Shaqiri signed for Chicago Fire in 2022 and has become a fan favorite. In just 66 appearances, he’s already scored a remarkable 27 goals. The former Stoke City forward earns $8.1 million as his base salary annually.
He is also known to keep fans on the edge of their seats because of his wonder goals that he scores occasionally.
3. Sergio Busquets – Inter Miami
Another former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets is third on the list. Playing as a defending midfielder for Inter Miami, he reportedly earns $8.7 million per year as his base salary.
He has already provided 4 assists this season and scored 1 goal. He has 88% passing accuracy this season so far which is the highest in the league.
2. Lorenzo Insigne – Toronto
Former Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne earns about $15.4 million a year with Toronto FC. He has enjoyed a good run of form lately scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists this season. He has lived up to his expectations since joining from Serie A in 2022.
Insigne is one of the ever-presents in Toronto’s team and will have a key role to play in their bid to reach the final series.
1. Lionel Messi – Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is unsurprisingly the highest-paid footballer in MLS. Messi reportedly earns a staggering $230,700 per week ($20.4 million/year) as a base salary. Other than his salary, he also earns through bonuses, brand deals, and other income streams.
His stardom has turned MLS into a must-watch league. He has helped MLS to captivate fans from all around the world.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
