Highest Paid MLS Players 2015
Major League Soccer is considered one of the most prestigious of Association football championships, in Canada and the United States. There are 20 teams that participate in this league, and these are divided into the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. 17 of these are from the US, while the remaining 3 are from Canada. The MLS is organized during the months of March to October every year, and the teams play 34 games in total. The tournament is governed by the United States Soccer Federation. As part of a successful bidding for hosting the FIFA World Cup 1994, the MLS was formed in 1993 in the US. The first MLS took place with 10 original franchise teams, back in 1996. The league is run on the basis of closed membership, and is therefore counted among the few leagues in soccer that do not resort to relegation or promotion. The MLS headquarter is currently based in New York City. The participants of the league are considered among the highest paid in the world. So, let us take a look at the Top 10 Highest Paid MLS Players 2015.
Top 10 Highest Paid MLS Players 2015
1. Ricardo Kaká
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite famously as Ricardo Kaká currently plays for the Orlando City in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the Brazilian National Football team. The 32-year old footballer was born in Gama, Federal District, Brazil on 22 April 1982. 1.86 meter high Ricardo Kaká usually plays as an attacking midfielder for his club and national team. From 2002 till now, he has achieved 29 goals in 89 appearances for the Brazilian national football team and also achieved 1 goal in 5 appearances for Brazil U20 team in 2001. He gets a base salary of $6,660,000 from MLS franchise Orlando City and cumulatively earned a total of $7,167,500 in the last season. Ricardo Kaká achieved the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball in 2007, FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007 and Ballon d’Or in 2007.
2. Clint Dempsey
Clinton Drew Dempsey, famously known as Clint Dempsey, currently plays for the Seattle Sounders FC in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the United States national football team. The 31-year old footballer was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States on March 9, 1983. 1.85 meter high Clint Dempsey usually plays as an attacking midfielder for his club and national team. From 2004 till now, he has achieved 39 goals in 110 appearances for United States national football team and also achieved 1 goal in 13 appearances for the United States U20 team from 2002 to 2003. He gets a base salary of $4,913,004 from MLS franchise Seattle Sounders FC and cumulatively earned a total of $6,695,189 in the last season. Clint Dempsey achieved the Confederation Cup Bronze Ball in 2009, Honda USA Player of the Year in 2006 and US Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2007.
3. Michael Bradley
Michael Sheehan Bradley famously known as Michael Bradley currently plays for the Toronto FC in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the United States National Football team. The 27-year old footballer was born in Princeton, New Jersey, United States on July 31, 1987. 1.86 meter high Michael Bradley usually plays as a Center midfielder for his club and national team. From 2006 till now, he has achieved 12 goals in 91 appearances for United States national football team and also made 4 appearances for United States U20 team in 2008. He gets a base salary of $6,000,000 from MLS franchise Toronto FC and cumulatively earned a total of $6,500,000 in the last season. Michael Bradley was the FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up in 2009, Coppa Italia Runner-up position for A.S. Roma- in 2013 and CONCACAF Gold Cup winner in 2007.
4. Jermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe, famously known as Jermain Defoe, currently plays for the Orlando City in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the England national football team. The 32-year old footballer was born in Beckton, London, England on 7 October 1982. 1.67 meter high Jermain Defoe usually plays as an striker for his club and national team. From 2004 till now, he has achieved 19 goals in 55 appearances for the England national football team and also achieved 7 goals in 23 appearances for the England U21 team from 2001 to 2003. He gets a base salary of $6,000,000 from MLS franchise Orlando City and cumulatively earned a total of $6,180,000 in the last season. Jermain Defoe achieved the FI EDGE Performance of the Month in October 2009, Premier League Player of the Month in August 2009 and Premier League Goal of the Month in November 2012.
5. Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan famously known as Landon Donovan currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the United States national football team. The 32-year old footballer was born in Ontario, California, United States on March 9, 1983. 1.73 meter high Landon Donovan usually plays as an attacking midfielder for his club and national team. From 2000 till now, he has achieved 57 goals in 157 appearances for the United States national football team and also achieved 9 goals in 15 appearances for United States U23 team from 2000 to 2004. He gets a base salary of $4,250,000 from MLS franchise Los Angeles Galaxy and cumulatively earned a total of $4,583,333 in the last season. Landon Donovan achieved the MLS Silver Boot in 2010, Major League Soccer MVP in 2009 and MLS Golden Boot in 2008.
6. Robbie Keane
Robert David Keane famously known as Robbie Keane currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the Ireland national football team. The 34-year old footballer was born in Dublin, Ireland on 8 July 1980. 1.75 meter high Robbie Keane usually plays as a striker for his club and national team. From 1998 till now, he has achieved 65 goals in 138 appearances for Ireland national football team and also achieved 82 goals in 197 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur from 2002 to 2008. He gets a base salary of $4,500,000 from MLS franchise Los Angeles Galaxy and cumulatively earned a total of $4,500,000 in the last season. Robbie Keane achieved the MLS Best XI in 2012 and 2013, Celtic Player of the Year 2010 and MLS Cup Playoffs Top Scorer in 2012.
7. Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry famously as Thierry Henry currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the France national football team. The 37-year old footballer was born in Les Ulis, Essonne, France on 17 August 1977. 1.88 meter high Thierry Henry usually plays as a striker for his club and national team. From 1997 to 2010, he has achieved 51 goals in 123 appearances for France national football team and also achieved 3 goals in 5 appearances for France U20 team in 1997. He gets a base salary of $3,750,000 from MLS franchise New York Red Bulls and cumulatively earned a total of $4,350,000 in the last season. Thierry Henry achieved the FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe in 2003, FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball in 2003 and Onze d’Or twice in 2003 and 2006.
8. Tim Cahill
Timothy Filiga Cahill famously known as Tim Cahill currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the Australian national football team. The 34-year old footballer was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6 December 1979. 1.78 meter high Tim Cahill usually plays as an attacking midfielder for his club and national team. From 2004 till now, he has achieved 35 goals in 75 appearances for the Australian national football team and also achieved 1 goal in 3 appearances for Australia U23 team in 2004. He gets a base salary of $3,500,000 from MLS franchise New York Red Bulls and cumulatively earned a total of $3,625,000 in the last season. Tim Cahill achieved the APFA Player of the Year in 2009, Oceania Footballer of the Year in 2004 and Everton Player of the Season in 2005.
9. Jermaine Jones
Jermaine Junior Jones famously as Jermaine Jones currently plays for the New England Revolution in the Major League Soccer besides most of his career with the United States national football team. The 33-year old footballer was born in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany on 3 November 1981. 1.84 meter high Jermaine Jones usually plays as a defensive midfielder for his club and national team. From 2010 till now, he has achieved 3 goals in 48 appearances for United States national football team and also made 3 appearances for Germany team in 2008. He gets a base salary of $3,000,500 from MLS franchise New England Revolution and cumulatively earned a total of $3,252,500 in the last season. Jermaine Jones was eligible to represent the United States because his father was an American and also he had not played a competitive match for Germany
10. Marco Di Vaio
Marco Di Vaio currently plays for the Montreal Impact in the Major League Soccer besides his career with the Italian national football team. The 38-year old footballer was born in Rome, Italy on 15 July 1976. 1.80 meter high Marco Di Vaio usually plays as a striker for his club and national team. From 2001 to 2004, he has achieved 2 goals in 14 appearances for the Italian national football team and also made 3 appearances for Italy U18 team from 1993 to 1994. He gets a base salary of $1,500,000 from MLS franchise Montreal Impact and cumulatively earned a total of $2,600,000 in the last season. Marco Di Vaio achieved the MLS Best XI in 2013, Serie B Top Scorer in 1998 and UEFA Super Cup with Valencia in 2004.
Players like Obafemi Martins or Steven Beitashour also deserve to be mentioned among the highest paid MLS players of the season. The defender of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Steven Beitashour has obtained a total of $1,771,667 in the last season, while the forward of Seatle Sounders FC Obafemi Martins made a cumulative total worth $1,753,333 in the last season of MLS.