MLSPlayers.org, the Web site for the Major League Soccer Players Union, released a full list of the league’s player salaries, including guaranteed bonuses, for the first time in its history. Incidentally, the move puts MLS in line with the rest of American’s sports leagues. In the past player salaries have been leaked to the media, although they were never publicly released by the league or union. According to the Players Union Web site, “the decision was made to facilitate the accurate reporting of this information and to help educate the public regarding player compensation.”
The Deseret Morning News compiled a list of the 10 highest-paid players in the league. L.A.’s David Beckham, obviously, is first, set to earn a guaranteed $6.5 million with a base salary of $5.5 million. He is followed by the Fire’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, guaranteed $2.67 million next season, the Bulls’ Juan Pablo Angel and Claudio Reyna, $1.6 million and $1.25 million, respectively, and then L.A.’s Landon Donovan, $900K. Eddie Johnson, Carlos Ruiz, Taylor Twellman, Freddy Adu and Toronto FC’s Welshman, Carl Robinson (surprise!), round out the top 10.