Sebastian Giovinco close to being MLS' highest-paid player

Orlando's Kaka remains the highest-paid player in MLS this season at $7,167,500 US.

Toronto star striker Sebastian Giovinco is not far behind at $7.116 million. TFC midfielder/captain Michael Bradley is making $6.5 million while forward Jozy Altdore is pulling down $4.825 million. The three designated players come at a combined cost of $18.44 million.

The numbers were released by the MLS Players Union.

There are 23 players earning more than $1 million, compared to 21 in the 2015 figures released last July when Kaka, Giovinco and Bradley were also the top-three earners.

New York City FC is spending $17.53 million on midfielders Frank Lampard ($6 million) and Andrea Pirlo ($5.92 million) and forward David Villa ($5.61 million).

The Los Angeles Galaxy are also spending big on midfielder Steven Gerrard ($6.13 million) and forwards Giovanni dos Santos ($4.25 million) and Robbie Keane ($3.5 million) for a total of $13.88 million. The Galaxy are also paying midfielder Nigel de Jong $500,000, forward Gyasi Zardes $472,500 and defender Jelle Van Damme $468,750.

Pedro Morales is the highest-paid Vancouver Whitecap at $1.26 million, followed by forward Octavio Rivero ($890,850), midfielders Matias Laba ($720,500) and goalkeeper David Ousted ($378,933).

Didier Drogba tops the Montreal Impact salary list at $2.167 million, ahead of defender Laurent Ciman ($661,667) and midfielders Lucas Ontivero ($440,000) and Ignacio Piatti ($425,000).

The figures show Toronto FC's revamped defence comes at a cost. The back four — consisting of newcomers Steven Beitashour ($244,000) and Drew Moor ($250,000) and holdovers Damien Perquis ($427,500) and Justin Morrow ($216,667) — along with new goalkeeper Clint Irwin ($107,000) are costing the club $1.02 million this season.

TFC is spending another $631,700 on backup defenders Mark Bloom, Nick Hagglund, Ashtone Morgan, Clement Simonin, Josh Williams and Eriq Zavaleta.

The numbers also demonstrate that the league can still be one of haves and have-nots. Mo Babouli, a 23-year-old homegrown player who replaced the injured Altidore in Toronto's starting lineup Wednesday night, is making $51,500 this season as a rookie.

Looking at Canadians around the league, Orlando striker Cycle Larin makes $177,000 while rookie teammate Richie Laryea is at $154,000. Toronto's Will Johnson earns $395,333.

Veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard, joining Colorado after a long career in England, is listed at $2.575 million.

Under MLS rules, a club can count either 18 or 20 players against the allowed salary budget of $3,660,000. The maximum cost on the books for one player is $457,500 (the extra cost of a DP's salary is not counted against the cap) with assorted ways of paying down salaries like targeted and general allocation money.