Australia’s Tim Cahill is the eighth highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, earning an annual salary of $US3.63 million ($A3.92 million).
The Socceroos star, who plays for the New York Red Bulls, pockets about half the amount of the league’s new biggest earner – Brazilian attacker Kaka.
According to figures released by the MLS Players Union, Kaka is on a base salary of $US6.6 million ($A7.14 million) from Orlando City.
The addition of signing and marketing bonuses take his total earnings to a league-record $US7.17 million ($A7.76 million).
David Beckham previously held the record with his $6.5 million annual wage during a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy which ended in 2011.
Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer David Villa’s salary with New York City is listed at an unusually-low $US60,000 ($A64,900).
However, Villa would be collecting an additional salary via his loan deal with A-League outfit Melbourne City.
The figures are the average annual guaranteed compensation players receive – including base salary and a percentage of signing and marketing bonuses. They do not include performance bonuses or loan salaries.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER’S MILLIONAIRE’S CLUB (all figures are in $US)
Kaka, Orlando City: $7.17 million
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders: $6.7 million
Michael Bradley, Toronto FC: $6.5 million
Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC: $6.18 million
Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy: $4.58 million
Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls: $4.35 million
Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy: $4.5 million
Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls: $3.63 million
Jermaine Jones, New England Revolution: $3.25 million
Marco Di Vaio, Montreal Impact: $2.6 million
Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders: $1.75 million
Pedro Morales, Vancouver Whitecaps: $1.41 million
Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles Galaxy: $1.25 million
Gilberto, Toronto FC: $1.21 million
Liam Ridgewell, Portland Timbers: $1.2 million
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