Kaka tops MLS salary list; dos Santos, Gerrard, Lampard, Pirlo wages revealed
Orlando City midfielder Kaka once again topped the list of highest earners in MLS.
The former FIFA World Player of the Year features at the top of the charts with guaranteed compensation of $7,167,500 in 2015, according to a list of player salaries published by the MLS Players Union on Friday.
Kaka narrowly beat out Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco ($7,115,555.67 in guaranteed compensation) to remain atop the list for a second consecutive year, while he also commanded a higher wage than recent high-profile arrivals Giovani dos Santos, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.
Gerrard ($6,332,504) narrowly beat out former England teammate Lampard ($6,000,000) among the new signings. LA Galaxy schemer Dos Santos will make $4.1 million after completing his move from Villarreal earlier this week, while Pirlo is a relative bargain at $2,315,694 after leaving Juventus to join New York City FC.
United States captain Michael Bradley ($6,500,000) remains the highest-paid American earner. Toronto FC teammate Jozy Altidore ranks second on that particular list at $4.75 million with Seattle forward Clint Dempsey next at $4.5 million.
There are 20 players in MLS currently making more than $1 million in guaranteed compensation. LA Galaxy currently tops the charts with four million-dollar earners with New York City FC and Toronto FC (not including on-loan forward Gilberto) each paying three players more than that total. Seattle is the only team with two players earning seven figures.
The release of these new figures arrives just one day after the Players Union ratified the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached with MLS earlier this year. The list reflects the increases to the minimum salary ($60,000 for senior players, $50,000 for reserve players) within the $3.49 million salary budget.
MLS teams also received $250,000 in regular allocation money and $100,000 in targeted allocation money this year -- in addition to other sums generated along the way -- to supplement that salary budget number and the spending on Designated Players.
TOP 10 HIGHEST EARNERS IN MLS
| PLAYER |
CLUB |
GUARANTEED COMPENSATION |
| Kaka | Orlando City | $7,167,500 |
| Sebastian Giovinco |
Toronto FC | $7,115,555.67 |
| Michael Bradley | Toronto FC |
$6,500,000 |
| Steven Gerrard | LA Galaxy | $6,332,504 |
| Frank Lampard | New York City FC |
$6,000,000 |
| David Villa | New York City FC | $5,610,000 |
| Jozy Altidore |
Toronto FC | $4,750,000 |
| Clint Dempsey | Seattle Sounders | $4,605,941.50 |
| Robbie Keane | LA Galaxy | $4,500,000 |
| Giovani dos Santos |
LA Galaxy | $4,100,008 |
