I recently added an interactive graph of MLS salary info to the site but I haven’t done much with the data since then. With the summer transfer window opening and fans debating whether or not it is worth it for their MLS club to import expensive Designated Players, I decided to take a look at how the top earners in MLS compare to their European counterparts. 
- David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez still earn a salary that would be competitive with the biggest stars in Europe.
- Only 7 players in MLS earn more than $1million a season, while the majority of the top 100 earn $250,000 or less.
- Cristiano Ronaldo earns roughly $340,000 a week, which is more than all but 21 MLS players earn in an entire season.
- David Beckham earns $250,000 in two weeks, more than all but 38 MLS players earn in an entire season,
Not surprisingly, European players earn considerably more than their MLS counterparts (excluding Beckham, Henry and Marquez). When you compare the weekly wage of a European player with the annual wage of an MLS player, parity starts to emerge.
The top 100 European salaries can be found at Futebol Finance and the top MLS Salaries can be found at MLS Players Union.
Do you think MLS clubs are smart to shell out that sort of cash for veterans like Beckham and Henry or do you think the money is better spent elsewhere? Does wage disparity cause problems within the club?
