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Kaka remains Major League Soccer's highest-paid player at just over $7 million, and American goalkeeper Tim Howard will earn slightly more than $2.5 million in his return to the league.
Kaka, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star, is earning a base salary of $6.6 million from Orlando City, according to figures released Thursday by the MLS Players Union. Including a prorated share of compensation not specified to a specific year, his total earnings remain a league-record $7,167,500.
Toronto's Sebastian Giovinco, the league's 2015 MVP, has a $5.6 million base and total compensation of $7,115,556. U.S. national team captain Michael Bradley, in his third season with Toronto, has a $6 million base and $6.5 million total earnings.
Howard, the U.S. starting goalkeeper at the past two World Cups, is joining Colorado next month after a decade at Everton. He has a $2.1 million base and $2,575,000 in total compensation.
Steven Gerrard, the former Liverpool and England captain now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, has a $6 million base salary and $6,132,500 in total earnings.
Former Chelsea and Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard, who has yet to play a match for New York City this season, has a $6 million salary. He is followed by teammates Andrea Pirlo ($5.6 million, $5,915,690) and David Villa ($5.61 million).
Twenty-three players have total earnings of $1 million or more, an increase of two from last year's initial salary list.
Toronto's Jozy Altidore was at $4,825,000, followed by Seattle's Clint Dempsey ($4,605,942), Los Angeles' Giovani Dos Santos ($4.25 million) and Robbie Keane ($3.5 million), Montreal's Didier Drogba ($2,166,667), Colorado's Shkelzen Gashi ($1,668,750), Salt Lake's Juan Manuel Martinez ($1,458,667), Seattle's Nelson Valdez ($1,455,000), San Jose's Innocent Emeghara ($1.3 million), Vancouver's Pedro Morales ($1,258,900), Portland's Liam Ridgewell ($1.25 million), Columbus' Federico Higuain ($1,175,000), Chicago's Gilberto ($1,145,000), Colorado's Kevin Doyle ($1.12 million) and New England's Kei Kamara ($1 million). Highest-paid players in MLS
Kaka, Orlando City: $7.167 million
Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC: $7.115 million
Michael Bradley, Toronto FC: $6.5 million
Steven Gerrard, Los Angeles Galaxy: $6.132 million
Frank Lampard, New York City FC: $6 million
Andrea Pirlo, New York City FC: $5.915 million
David Villa, New York City FC: $5.61 million
Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC: $4.825 million
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders: $4.605 million
Giovani Dos Santos, Los Angeles Galaxy: $4.25 million
Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy: $3.5 million
Tim Howard, Colorado Rapids: $2.575 million
Didier Drogba, Montreal Impact: $2.166 million
Shkelzen Gashi, Colorado Rapids: $1.668 million
Juan Manuel Martinez, Real Salt Lake: $1.458 million
Nelson Valdez, Seattle Sounders: $1.455 million
Innocent Emeghara, San Jose Earthquakes: $1.3 million
Pedro Morales, Vancouver Whitecaps: $1.258 million
Liam Ridgewell, Portland Timbers: $1.25 million
Federico Higuain, Columbus Crew: $1.175 million
Gilberto, Chicago Fire: $1.145 million
Kevin Doyle, Colorado Rapids: $1.12 million
Kei Kamara, New England Revolution: $1 million
Six teams do not have anyone earning $1 million or more: FC Dallas, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union.