Kaka Still Highest-Earning MLS Player After Arrivals of Lampard, Gerrard, Pirlo

Ricardo Kaka is still the biggest earner in Major League Soccer, despite a flurry of new arrivals to the division, including Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo.

MLS release salary figures for all of their players—a different approach to, say, the Premier League—and it gives an insight into how much stars are earning. 

There are a total of 21 players in the league currently earning seven figures or more.

For those deciphering the list, Sports Illustrated explain the "Guaranteed Compensation" figure:

"

Guaranteed compensation takes into account base salary and signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player's contract (including option years). Marketing bonuses, performance bonuses and other individual agreements between players and clubs are separate and not listed. For summer arrivals, their deals are pro-rated. 

"

Kaka, who earns $7,167,500 with Orlando City, per the figures, beats Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto by a narrow margin into second.

Gerrard, now of the L.A. Galaxy, earns $6,332,504, while Frank Lampard's earnings at New York City FC are an even $6,000,000.

One surprise, though, is how low Pirlo's figure is relative to the others. His earnings are quoted at $2,315,694.

[MLS, h/t Sports Illustrated]