MLS contracts 2021

During the past 5 years, earnings in the
MLS for defensive-oriented payers have increased significantly more than for
attacking-oriented players. For instance, the top 90th percentile of
Forwards earn 8% less than in 2017, and when corrected for inflation, even 19%
less. In contrast, defenders earn 184% more and after correction for inflation
173% more in 2021 versus 2017. Goalkeepers are earning in the 75th percentile
and 90th percentile is earning 142% and 109% more in 2021 than in 2017.

Does this mean that teams in the MLS have become more defensively oriented and more interested in not losing than winning? Forbes writes on May 24, 2021, “After the end of play Sunday — which bore only four goals combined in three matches — the MLS average is 2.51 goals per game (gpg) with 85 played. That’s a pace 13% lower than last season and 21% lower than 2018, the second-highest-scoring season in league history. And if it keeps up that way, it would mark the lowest average since the 2010 season, when the league’s profile was decidedly less glamorous. The good news for fans of goals — and who isn’t? — is that this appears to be an outlier rather than the systemic issues baseball is

experiencing. Each of the previous four seasons was among the 10 highest-scoring since the league launched in 1996.”

In other words, it may express concern about defenses being too weak. Maybe higher pay for defensive players will make the job of defender more glamorous. Over the years, good central defenders have been hard to find. Goalkeepers leave for careers abroad. Perhaps this growth of compensation will help!

Source see: https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide