LAFC player Carlos Vela received an annual base salary of 6.5 million U.S. dollars and was the highest paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2021. Javier Hernandez, Gonzalo Higuain, and Alejandro Pozuelo followed Vela in the list, annually earning six, 5.79 and 4.69 million U.S. dollars respectively.
How does MLS attract the big names?
The Designated Player Rule was introduced ahead of the 2007 MLS season to encourage the signing of international stars – David Beckham was the first player signed under the rule when he transferred from Real Madrid to Los Angeles Galaxy. The rule provides clubs with flexibility in the competitive global transfer market, currently allowing teams to sign up to three players whose salary can exceed the maximum salary budget. In 2019, the maximum player salary was set at 530,000 U.S. dollars while the club salary budget was 4.24 million U.S. dollars. As a comparison, the overall budget set for MLS teams was less than the average annual player salary in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Highest paid players in Major League Soccer in 2021
(in million U.S. dollars)
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MLS Players Union. (September 30, 2021). Highest paid players in Major League Soccer in 2021 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/551593/highest-paid-mls-players/
MLS Players Union. "Highest paid players in Major League Soccer in 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)." Chart. September 30, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/551593/highest-paid-mls-players/
MLS Players Union. (2021). Highest paid players in Major League Soccer in 2021 (in million U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 21, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/551593/highest-paid-mls-players/
MLS Players Union. "Highest Paid Players in Major League Soccer in 2021 (in Million U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Sep 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/551593/highest-paid-mls-players/
MLS Players Union, Highest paid players in Major League Soccer in 2021 (in million U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/551593/highest-paid-mls-players/ (last visited May 21, 2022)
