Top 5 highest-paid MLS players in 2023

Lionel Messi overtakes Xherdan Shaqiri as MLS's highest earner.

The top earners of MLS. (Image credit: Goal.com)

The Major League Soccer (MLS) has attracted talent from across the world. The game has been growing at a rapid pace in the United States. Big names moving across the pond have increased their visibility in the American mainstream.

Back in the day, we saw some of the great players of the 2000s make the switch. David Beckham, Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all signed contracts with MLS teams. More recently, Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale have secured lucrative deals with Inter Miami and LAFC respectively.

With more and more money being invested into the game, America can expect to make a name for itself in football in the coming years. Stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston Mckennie, and Gio Reyna, and managers like Jesse Marsch have surely increased the profile of the sport.

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These big names have garnered attention from the US public. Although the country has primarily been associated with American football and baseball, football, or soccer, has gained steady ground in the last few years.

With the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, it is an exciting opportunity for the fans to cherish their love for the game. Here are the richest players playing in Uncle Sam’s land.

Lionel Messi

Perhaps the most recent and prominent transfer, Lionel Messi’s move to the MLS has made him the highest-paid player in the league. The legendary Argentinian is set to pocket anywhere between $125 million to $150 million.

Base salary aside, the former Barcelona man will get a share of the revenue generated by MLS partners Apple and Adidas as well. Messi’s choice to play in the United States leaving a potentially billion-dollar contract in Saudi raised a few eyebrows after the announcement but since then, his contract details have come to the fore.

In case you missed it: Is Lionel Messi getting a percentage share in Adidas upon his mega move to Inter Miami?

Xherdan Shaqiri

Q 1686556148 — Shaqiri in his Liverpool days (Credit: Sky Sports)

Next on the list we have former Liverpool maestro Xherdan Shaqiri. He made his name at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp. The Swiss international contributed to the Reds’ triumph in the 2019 Champions League, starting the famous 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona. He then moved to Lyon in Ligue 1, before moving to Chicago Fire in the MLS in 2022. He pockets a whopping $8.2 million a year, nearly 42% of Fire’s wage bill.

Lorenzo Insigne

Q 1686556144 — Lorezno Insigne for Toronto FC (Credit: Toronto FC)

The short-statured Italian has mesmerized audiences for years in Europe. He was known as a nimble player, who created chances for fun and had an eye for goal. Following a triumphant campaign for Italy in the Euro 2020, Insigne made a switch to the MLS. He signed a pre-contract with Toronto FC, where he became their highest earner. He earns a whopping $7.5 million a year.

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez

Q 1686556141 2 — Hernandez has been adored by a number of fans worldwide Credit: LA Galaxy

Javier Hernandez, fondly known as “Chicharito” is next on the list of MLS big earners. The Mexican forward made his name playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, which includes Real Madrid and Manchester United. He also had stints at Sevilla, West Ham, and Bayer Leverkusen. The aesthetically pleasing player then moved to the MLS from Sevilla in January 2020. He earns $7.4 million a year.

Federico Bernardeschi

Q 1686556152 — Bernadeschi in action (Credit: MLS)

The second Italian on the list, who is also a Toronto FC player, Bernardeschi earns $6.9 million in a year. The winger moved to the MLS outfit after seasons with Italian heavyweights Juventus. Bernardeschi was at the club for half a decade, signing in 2017, before moving away in 2022. He was also a part of the Italian squad that won the Euro 2020 championship. The Toronto FC man scored crucial spot kicks in the semi-final and final, the latter being the game-winning one. He reunited with his Italian teammate Insigne in Canada.

Although the MLS employs a salary cap, a total of three players in a squad can exceed it. It is known as the Designated Player Rule in the MLS. All the aforementioned players occupy that spot in their respective teams.