Highest Paid MLS Players in the 2012 Season

Here is a list of top 10 highest paid players in the MLS for the 2012 season.

1. Thierry Henry - FRA - New York Red Bulls - $5,600,000
2. Rafael Márquez - MEX - New York Red Bulls - $4,600,000
3. David Beckham - ENG - Los Angeles Galaxy - $4,000,000
4. Robbie Keane - IRE - Los Angeles Galaxy - $3,417,243
5 Torsten Frings - GER - Toronto FC $2,413,000
6 Landon Donovan - USA - Los Angeles Galaxy - $2,400,000
7. Marco Di Vaio - ITA - Montreal Impact - $1,937,508
8. Julian de Guzman - CAN - FC Dallas - $1,910,746
9. Danny Koevermans - NED - Toronto FC - $1,563,323
10. Kris Boyd - SCO - Portland Timbers - $1,515,000

The Major League Soccer (MLS) generally has a salary cap up to $,2,810,000 per team. The players above fall into the designated player category and they each count for $350,000 against the salary cap. In reality the players are paid a lot more. The Designated Player Rule, nicknamed the 'Beckham Rule', was adopted by MLS in 2007. The rule allows MLS teams to compete for star players in the international market.

The above player salaries include compensation from their MLS contract. The amount does not include bonuses or compensation from contracts with individual teams.