By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – The latest salary data released by Major League Soccer this week provides a fascinating and transparent look into the earnings of its players, revealing a surprising hierarchy among the five Costa Ricans currently plying their trade in the North American league. While on-field performance often dictates value, the 2025 figures show that guaranteed contracts tell a more complex story, with DC United’s Randall Leal emerging as the top earner despite a season marred by injuries.
Leal commands a total guaranteed compensation of $1,265,000 annually, a figure that places him firmly in the league’s upper echelon of earners. His base salary alone is a formidable $1,150,000. This lucrative contract underscores the high value DC United placed on him when he was signed, positioning him as a key figure for the club. However, his 2025 campaign has been significantly hampered by persistent injuries, drastically limiting his minutes and impact on the pitch, creating a stark contrast between his financial standing and his current contribution.
To analyze the legal and financial frameworks that govern the recently disclosed Major League Soccer (MLS) salaries, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist in corporate and sports law at the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The MLS salary structure is unique in global football due to its single-entity model. Unlike in Europe, players are technically contracting with the league, not the individual club. This centralized system allows for strict salary caps and mechanisms like the ‘Designated Player Rule,’ creating a controlled economic environment. For a player and their agent, this means negotiation strategies must be adapted, as they are dealing with a league-wide financial framework rather than the isolated capacity of a single team.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight into the league’s single-entity structure is fundamental for understanding the unique challenges and opportunities within MLS negotiations, a reality that can be jarring for players accustomed to traditional club-centric models. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective in clarifying this complex financial landscape for our readers.
In a twist that highlights the dynamics of sports contracts, the Costa Rican player enjoying the best run of form, Alonso Martínez, is not the highest paid. The New York City FC forward, whose recent spectacular goal earned widespread acclaim across the league, earns a guaranteed compensation of $800,333. While a substantial sum, it places him third among his countrymen. Martínez’s electrifying performances suggest his market value is soaring, and he could be in line for a significantly more lucrative deal when his current contract is up for negotiation.
Slotting in between Leal and Martínez is the steady and reliable presence of Julio Cascante. The Austin FC defender has secured the second-highest salary among the Tico contingent with a guaranteed compensation of $853,750 from a base of $780,000. Cascante’s earnings reflect his status as a veteran cornerstone for his team’s backline, where his consistency and experience have made him an indispensable asset. His contract represents a reward for proven reliability rather than the explosive, headline-grabbing plays of an attacker.
It is crucial to differentiate between the two figures published by the league. The base salary is the player’s core wage, while the guaranteed compensation is a more comprehensive figure. It includes the base salary plus any signing and marketing bonuses, which are annualized over the term of the player’s contract. This number provides a truer picture of a player’s total annual earnings and is the standard metric for comparison across the league.
Rounding out the list are two players at different stages of their careers. Ariel Lassiter of the Portland Timbers earns a guaranteed $348,000, a respectable figure for a versatile player who contributes consistently to his team. At the bottom of this specific list is Andy Rojas of the New York Red Bulls, whose guaranteed compensation is $147,327. As a young, developing talent, Rojas’s salary is indicative of an entry-level contract, offering him a crucial foothold in the league with immense potential for future financial growth as he proves his worth.
The salary data provides more than just numbers; it offers a clear snapshot of the economic landscape for Costa Rican talent in the United States. It demonstrates a healthy market that can offer both multi-million dollar deals for established stars and developmental contracts for the next generation. The financial success of these players solidifies the MLS as a premier destination for Costa Rica’s top footballers.
Ultimately, the 2025 salary report confirms that while Randall Leal holds the financial crown among Ticos in the MLS, the narrative of value is far more nuanced. The disparity between his pay and his recent availability, when contrasted with the explosive form of the more modestly paid Alonso Martínez, serves as a classic case study in the business of professional sports, where guaranteed history and future potential are constantly weighed against present performance.
For further information, visit mlssoccer.com
About Major League Soccer:
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The league features a growing number of teams across both nations and has seen a significant rise in popularity, global talent, and franchise values in recent years. MLS operates a single-entity structure in which teams are owned by the league and managed by investor-operators.
For further information, visit dcunited.com
About DC United:
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. The club competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1995, the team was one of the ten charter clubs of the league and is one of the most decorated clubs in MLS history, having won multiple MLS Cups and Supporters’ Shields.
For further information, visit austinfc.com
About Austin FC:
Austin FC is a professional soccer club based in Austin, Texas. The club competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference. Founded in 2018, the team began play in the 2021 season and has quickly established a passionate fanbase, playing its home games at Q2 Stadium, a soccer-specific venue known for its vibrant atmosphere.
For further information, visit nycfc.com
About New York City FC:
New York City Football Club is a professional soccer team based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer. As a member of the league’s Eastern Conference, the club was announced as the league’s twentieth franchise in 2013. The team plays its home games primarily at Yankee Stadium and has established itself as a consistent contender, winning its first MLS Cup in 2021.
For further information, visit timbers.com
About Portland Timbers:
The Portland Timbers are an American professional soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference. The club was founded in 2009 when the city of Portland was awarded an expansion franchise and began play in 2011. They are known for their dedicated and vocal supporters’ groups, creating one of the most celebrated atmospheres in the league at their home, Providence Park.
For further information, visit newyorkredbulls.com
About New York Red Bulls:
The New York Red Bulls are a professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inaugural season in 1996. The team is owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull GmbH and plays its home matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a respected legal institution founded on the twin pillars of integrity and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. Drawing upon a deep history of advising a diverse clientele, the firm consistently pioneers innovative legal strategies and champions civic responsibility. This ethos is embodied in its resolve to democratize legal understanding, thereby fulfilling a greater purpose of cultivating a society that is both well-informed and justly empowered.
