Kaka still reigns as cash king

Orlando City midfielder Kaka is the highest-paid Major League Soccer player for a third straight year, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union on Tuesday.

The former Brazil, AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder, who has not played since picking up a hamstring injury in Orlando's season-opening match in early March, will earn $7.2 million in 2017.

At the opposite end of the pay scale, Kaka's teammates Pierre Da Silva, Moussa Sane and Mason Stajduhar all make the league reserve minimum of $53,000.

Italian forward and 2015 league MVP Sebastian Giovinco, formerly of Juventus, was second on the list with $7.1 million in total compensation, followed by US national team captain and Toronto team mate Michael Bradley ($6.5 million).

New York City's Italian World Cup-winning midfielder Andrea Pirlo ($5.9 million) and teammate David Villa ($5.6 million) of Spain rounded out the top five.

Los Angeles Galaxy's Mexican forward Giovani Dos Santos ($5.5 million) was sixth while Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has just joined the Chicago Fire from Manchester United, was ranked seventh at $5.4 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were American duo Jozy Altidore ($4.9 million) and Clint Dempsey ($3.9 million) and Argentine Diego Valeri ($2.6 million).

MLS teams do not disclose salary information when announcing player contracts but the figures are confirmed by the union twice each year.

Reuters