Kaka is top-paid MLS player for third straight year

Toronto: Orlando City midfielder Kaka is the highest-paid Major League Soccer player for a third consecutive year with over $7 million (Dh25.7 million) in annual earnings, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union on Tuesday.

The former Brazil midfielder, who has not played since picking up a hamstring injury in the first game of Orlando’s season in early March, will earn $7.2 million in total compensation in 2017.

Italian forward and former Landon Donovan MVP Award winner Sebastian Giovinco was second on the list with $7.1 million in total compensation followed by US national team captain and Toronto teammate Michael Bradley ($6.5 million).

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

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Giovani Dos Santos ($5.5 million) was sixth among the league’s highest-paid players while Bastian Schweinsteiger, in his first year with the Chicago Fire, was ranked seventh at ($5.4 million).

Making up the top 10 were Jozy Altidore ($4.9 million), 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.