Lionel Messi continues to lead Major League Soccer, on the field and off it, with a league-high salary of $20,446,977 (all figures in U.S. dollars) this season.
According to figures released Thursday by the MLS Players Association, the Argentine star is one of six Inter Miami players making a seven-figure salary or more.
The others are Sergio Busquets ($8.77 million), Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez ($1.5 million), Julian Gressel ($1.09 million) and Nicolas Freire ($1 million).
Lorenzo Insigne tops the Toronto FC payroll at $15.4 million, followed by fellow attacker Italian Federico Bernardeschi ($6.295 million) and Canadian fullback/wingback Richie Laryea ($1.21 million). Captain Jonathan Osorio, who restructured his contract to allow Laryea to take over his designated player status, is earning $836,369, down from $1.4 million last season.
The new salary figures show Toronto managed to bring in talent at modest pay this season with midfielder Matty Longstaff, formerly of England's Newcastle, at $216,375 and veteran defender Kevin Long (Birmingham) at $277,500. Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores is listed at $456,667.
Canadian forward Ayo Akinola, whose TFC contract was terminated by mutual agreement recently, was making $846,875.
Toronto rookie Tyrese Spicer, the top pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, is earning $73,901.
Several former TFC players continue to get paid in Jozy Altidore (who joined the New England Revolution after being bought out by Toronto in February 2022) at $2.42 million, Chris Mavinga (who played for the Los Angeles Galaxy most recently) at $702,500 and Adama Diomande (who was waived by Toronto in February) at $660,000.
All three are listed as "MLS pool players."
Scottish star Ryan Gauld tops the Vancouver Whitecaps payroll at $2.985 million, followed by midfielders Andres Cubas ($1.146 million) and Alessandro Schopf at $992,500. Canadian fullback Sam Adekugbe earns $913,000 and star striker Brian White $754,400.
Veteran midfielder Victor Wanyama is CF Montreal's highest-earner at $1.8 million, with forward Josef Martinez next at $1.309 million. Uruguayan forward Matias Coccaro makes $888,000.
Chicago attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, a Swiss international, is collecting $8.153 million while Austin attacking midfielder Sebastian Driussi earns $6.72 million, New York Red Bulls attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg $6.035 million, Houston midfielder Hector Herrera $5.25 million and Nashville playmaker Hany Mukhtar $5.21 million.
Other Canadians include Portland defender Kamal Miller ($767,500) and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau ($618,333), New England midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye ($750,000), Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair ($481,875) and Nashville winger Jacob Shaffelburg ($395,000).
Minnesota forward Tani Oluwaseyi, who was born in Nigeria but came to Canada when he was 10, is a bargain at $89,716. He has four goals in his last six games.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2024
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
