Xherdan Shaqiri is once again the highest-paid player in MLS

The Swiss star tops the list, with Lorenzo Insigne in second place

The MLS Players Association has unveiled its 2023 salary guide, releasing the salaries for every player in the league.

With a guaranteed compensation of $8.2 million, Chicago Fire winger Xherdan Shaqiri has regained his position atop the list of the league’s highest-paid players. The Swiss star is followed by Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne at $7.5 million.

Shaqiri topped the list last spring, before Insigne surpassed him with a $14 million salary after joining at midseason. But the Italy international has seen his salary reduced in his second MLS season, moving him back to second place.

Though he’s the league’s highest earner, Shaqiri has put up respectable but unspectacular statistics: seven goals and 12 assists in 36 matches over two seasons while playing for one of the league’s worst teams.

Shaqiri and Insigne are followed by LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández ($7.4 million), TFC forward Federico Bernardeschi ($6.3 million) and Austin FC playmaker Sebastián Driussi ($6 million) in the top five.

Among teams TFC and the Galaxy lead the way, with CF Montréal and St. Louis City at the bottom for collective spending on player salaries.

Top 10 highest-paid MLS players*

  1. Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire: $8.2 million
  2. Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC: $7.5 million
  3. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, LA Galaxy: $7.4 million
  4. Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC: $6.3 million
  5. Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC: $6 million
  6. Héctor Herrera, Houston Dynamo: $5.3 million
  7. Douglas Costa, LA Galaxy: $4.5 million
  8. Luiz Araújo, Atlanta United: $4.5 million
  9. Christian Benteke, DC United: $4.4 million
  10. Josef Martínez, Inter Miami: $4.4 million

*All salaries in guaranteed compensation.

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