3 foreigners lead the Top 10 Highest-paid MLS players list

Major League Soccer (MLS) has set strict rules concerning the number of salaries each club can pay to its players. Through, the Harmonised Salary Structure, MLS clubs cannot outspend each other just because they have the money. This was done to even the competition amongst MLS sides and to also help teams spend within their means to avoid debts.

The effect of the salary scale on the MLS is that every club has the opportunity to sign at least one top player and this shows in the rankings of the highest-paid players in the MLS as no club has two players in the Top 5 and only Toronto FC and Inter Miami have two players in the Top 10. This is a big difference from the EPL where Manchester United accounts for 5 of the Top 10 highest-paid players and Manchester City accounts for another 3.

The Top 10 Highest-paid players in the MLS

The list of the highest-paid players in the MLS is topped by Los Angeles FC's Carlos Vela. The Mexican earns $6.3m annually for his efforts. Closely following is Javier Hernandez of LA Galaxy. Another Mexican earns $6m annually from his contract with the LA club. Argentine striker, Gonzalo Higuain rounds up the Top 3 with a pay packet of $5.79m annually at Inter Miami.

Alejandro Pozuelo of Toronto FC ($4.69m) and Atlanta United's Jozef Martinez ($3.89m) are No 4 and No 5 on the list. Jozy Altidore of Toronto FC ($3.6m), Rodolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami ($3.35m), Maxi Morales of New York City FC ($3.29m), Victor Wanyama of Montreal Impact FC ($3.09m) and Franco Jara of Dallas FC ($2.98m) make up the Top 10 highest-paid players in the MLS.