Five elite MLS players take up 30.5 percent of the entire league payroll, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing MLS Players Union figures.
David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Rafael Marquez, Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry make a combined $21.7 million in guaranteed compensation out of a $71.3 million league payroll.
The five bankable stars are split between just two MLS clubs. Beckham and Donovan play for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Marquez, Angel and Henry take the field for the New York Red Bulls. The two teams are set to play tonight at 11 p.m. on ESPN2 at the Home Depot Center.
Beckham and Donovan will rake in 78 percent of the Galaxy’s payroll, while the three Red Bulls stars comprise 83 percent of their team’s payroll.
Beckham alone will earn 9.1 percent of the league payroll with $6.5 million due from L.A. this season. Henry, who has made the most buzz in MLS this season with his transfer from European powerhouse Barcelona will make $5.6 million in his first year with New York.
