Xherdan Shaqiri is Major League Soccer\'s highest-paid player with a guaranteed compensation of $8.15 million, according to salary data published Tuesday by the MLS Players Association.
Shaqiri beat Javier \"Chicharito\" Hernandez of the LA Galaxy for the top spot, with the Mexico international guaranteed $6m. Inter Miami\'s Gonzalo Higuain ($5.79m), Toronto FC\'s Alejandro Pozuelo ($4.69m), the New England Revolution\'s Jozy Altidore ($4.26m), Atlanta United\'s Josef Martinez ($4.14m) and LAFC\'s Carlos Vela ($4.05m) -- the highest paid player this time a year ago -- rounded out the top six earners.
The MLSPA said the average base salary for senior roster non-Designated Players increased from $397,753 in 2021 to $438,728 in 2022, an increase of 10.3 percent. This figure doesn\'t include players making the senior minimum ($84,000) or reserve minimum ($65,500) salaries.