The salaries of star men within the U.S. game was released on Wednesday, with a number of household names among the top earners
The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) has released its salary guide for 2019.
As expected, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new deal with the LA Galaxy has seen him vastly improve his wages from a year ago, and while his move up the list is not a shock, there were a few surprises along the way.
See for youself below, as Goal runs through the 10 highest-earners in MLS from top to bottom.
Katharine Lotze10Zlatan Ibrahimovic | LA Galaxy | $7.2 million
After working through the 2018 season on the measly listed wages of $1.5m, Ibrahimovic made the decision to stick around in MLS, and it paid off in a big way.
The LA Galaxy designated player is on the highest salary in the history of MLS, his $7.2 million just a shade over the $7.1m listed wage for Sebastian Giovinco with Toronto last season.
But with 33 goals in 39 outings, the Galaxy likely feel they're getting strong value out of the former Manchester United forward, who continues to shine both on and off the field and is the biggest star in the league at this point.
AdvertisementGetty Images9Giovani dos Santos | No Club | $6.5m
To keep Ibrahimovic, the Galaxy had to make a sacrifice elsewhere, and Dos Santos was the man to take the hit.
The Mexico international was one of four designated players on the Galaxy roster heading into the 2019 season, but MLS rules allow for only three. The club made the call to cut loose the older of the Dos Santos brothers in March, but his compensation package still sees him listed as one of the highest-paid players on the MLS payroll, even if he is not currently in the league.
Getty Images8Michael Bradley | Toronto FC | $6.5m
Bradley has been among the league's best paid players for several years and was part of a high-earning Toronto side which won the 2017 MLS Cup title in record-setting fashion.
His total compensation package still sees him listed as one of the top-three earners in the league, and TFC will be hoping he can help them reach championship form again in 2019.
Vaughn Ridley7Jozy Altidore | Toronto FC | $6.3m
Another player who picked up a big payday from Toronto FC, Altidore remains in the top-five highest paid players in the league.
The USMNT forward has netted five times in nine appearances so far this season for TFC as he has battled injury, but remains a threat when fit and on the pitch.
He will be hoping for a return to his 2017 form, when he netted 15 times for the club in helping lead them to the top of MLS.