{"id":1328198,"date":"2023-10-20T17:10:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1328198"},"modified":"2023-10-20T17:10:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:10:44","slug":"hit-or-miss-the-top-10-mls-earners-2023","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/hit-or-miss-the-top-10-mls-earners-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Hit or miss? The top 10 MLS earners for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the league’s shift toward developing young players, there are arguably more stars in Major League Soccer than ever before.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right across the league, there are household names and icons that’ll be familiar to European audiences plying their trade across the pond and that’s without even mentioning the GOAT himself.<\/p>\n

Of course, not all the big names that move to MLS taste success. For every David Beckham, there’s a Rafa Marquez. And for every Thierry Henry, there’s a Lothar Matthaus.<\/p>\n

The MLS Player’s Association (MLSPA) recently published its salary guide for the 2023 season, showing us just how much each player is earning right now. Naturally, the top 10 is dominated by giants of the game and the league itself, but not all of them have worked out as planned.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at which of Major League Soccer’s highest earners have been a hit or a miss:<\/p>\n

10. Josef Martinez<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Club: <\/strong>Inter Miami
\n<\/strong>Base salary: <\/strong>$4,000,000
\nGuaranteed compensation:\u00a0<\/strong>$4,391,667<\/p>\n

Nowadays with Inter Miami, Josef Martinez is very much a rotational option and a sidekick to Lionel Messi, but during his Atlanta United days, ‘El Rey’ was the most feared player in the whole of MLS and a serial winner.<\/p>\n

Verdict: Hit<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. Christian Benteke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Club: <\/strong>DC United
\n<\/strong>Base salary: <\/strong>$4,250,000
\nGuaranteed compensation:\u00a0<\/strong>$4,432,778<\/p>\n

After a slow start, Christian Benteke has been banging in the goals for DC United this season. Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite done enough to help the four-time champions back into the Playoffs, but he cannot be individually blamed.<\/p>\n

Verdict: Hit<\/strong><\/p>\n

8. Douglas Costa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Club: <\/strong>LA Galaxy
\n<\/strong>Base salary: <\/strong>$3,000,000
\nGuaranteed compensation:\u00a0<\/strong>$4,508,333<\/p>\n

Douglas Costa’s spell in California has been hampered by injury and poor form, and he’s done absolutely nothing to help Major League Soccer’s most successful club return to the top.<\/p>\n

Verdict: Miss<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Hector Herrera<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Club: <\/strong>Houston Dynamo
\n<\/strong>Base salary: <\/strong>$4,750,000
\nGuaranteed compensation:\u00a0<\/strong>$5,246,875<\/p>\n

Hector Herrera was another who endured a slow start in MLS, but fast forward to the latter stages of 2023 and it’s clear to see the incredible impact he’s had. The Mexico international has hit four goals and 10 assists in MLS play so far this season, helping the Houston Dynamo finally return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2017, while also leading them to glory in the US Open Cup.<\/p>\n

Verdict: Hit<\/strong><\/p>\n

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How to live stream MLS fixtures online:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bet365 are live streaming a selection of MLS fixtures. Here’s how you can access games being live-streamed on the bet365 platform:<\/p>\n