Major League Soccer's Highest Paid Players

The Major League Soccer Player Union's release of 2011 MLS player salaries contains few surprises. David Beckham and Thierry Henry are the only players who earn more than $5 million a year and only six active players make more than $1 million.

Other highlights:

-- Only eight of the 25 best-paid players (and 21 of the 50 best-paid players) are Americans.

-- Only five of the 30 best-paid players (and 11 of the 50 best-paid players) have spent their entire careers in MLS.

-- Two 2010 SuperDraft picks -- Danny Mwanga and Dilly Duka -- are on the top 50 list.

-- Chicago is the only club with no active player on the top 50 list. Mexican Nery Castillo is listed as the Fire's top earner at $2,038,063, but he is playing on at Greek club Aris.

(Click here for complete salaries.)

PLAYER (CLUB) GUARANTEED COMPENSATION
1. David Beckham (Los Angeles) $6,500,000
2. Thierry Henry (New York) $5,600,000
3. Rafael Marquez (New York) $4,600,000
4. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles) 2,300,000
5. Julian de Guzman (Toronto FC) $1,910,746