Zlatan Ibrahimovic Sets MLS Salary Record at $7.2 Million

The MLS Players Association revealed the most recent salary info, indicating a significant increase from Year 1 to Year 2 for the LA Galaxy superstar.

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) – LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is earning a Major League Soccer-record $7.2 million salary this season.

The 37-year-old Ibrahimovic, who earned a relatively modest $1.5 million last year, broke the previous mark of Toronto's Sebastian Giovinco, who had $7,115,556 in total compensation in both 2017 and 2018.

The MLS Players Association said Wednesday the average base salary for all players this year is $376,174 and the average guaranteed compensation is $417,643, including a prorated share of guaranteed money not attributable to a specific year. The average salary for senior roster non-designated players increased 13.3% to $345,867 and is up from $138,140 in 2014.

The 2019 Salary Guide is now available. The release contains Base Salary and Total Compensation data for players under contract as of June 1. This marks the 13th consecutive year of the PA providing salary transparency in MLS. MORE: https://t.co/hv0ahP3GzY pic.twitter.com/nKa978PKQC

— MLSPA (@MLSPA) June 12, 2019

Striker Giovani dos Santos, released by the Galaxy in March, is second with a base salary of $4.75 million and total compensation of $6.5 million.

Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley ($6 million base, $6,428,571 total) is third, followed by Toronto striker Jozy Altidore ($4,891,250, $6,332,250), LAFC forward Carlos Vela ($4.5 million base, $6.3 million total), Chicago midfield Bastian Schweinsteiger ($5.6 million base and total), Montreal winger Ignacio Piatti ($530,000, $4,443,333), Toronto midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo ($3.8 million), DC United forward Wayne Rooney ($3.5 million, $3,507,500), Atlanta forward Josef Martinez ($3 million, $3,058,333), Seattle forward Nicolas Lodeiro ($2 million, $2,502,500), Orlando midfielder Nani ($2,333333, $2,486,250) and Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard ($2 million, $2,475,000).

The minimum salary for each team's 18-20 senior players rose to $70,250 this season and the minimum for its maximum eight reserve players increased to $56,250. This is the final season of a five-year labor contract.