Former Liverpool player Xherdan Shaqiri named highest-earner in MLS

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Xherdan Shaqiri has been revealed as the highest-earning player in MLS, two years after the Swiss international left Liverpool.

As per MLS’ official website, the Chicago Fire attacker has been unveiled as the highest-paid player in the division with an annual salary of $7.35m (£5.9m), beating out the likes of Javier Hernandez, Lorenzo Insigne and Douglas Costa.

With another former Liverpool attacker in Christian Benteke also making the top-ten, Anfield’s influence in MLS is at a notable high point this season, though Shaqiri taking the top spot in the salary charts will more than likely catch some supporters off-guard.

The 31-year-old left Merseyside in 2021 for Olympique Lyonnais in a reported £5m move. However, Shaqiri was soon on his way to the Windy City with the Fire in January 2022, where the forward is currently experiencing his second season in MLS.

Despite being the highest-paid player in the division, Shaqiri’s form has left little to be desired, with the former Bayern Munich star failing to core at all this season having bagged just seven in the previous year as the Chicago Fire failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs.

Liverpool sold Shaqiri at the right time amid MLS revelation

Shaqiri was a useful servant for Liverpool in the three years the versatile forward spent at Anfield, yet selling the former Stoke City man in 2021 has proven to be a wise decision from Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the forward’s salary at Chicago simply too crazy to comprehend.

Indeed, the Swiss superstar has all the quality in the world to become a top player, but with injuries and a lack of consistent form plaguing Shaqiri’s career, Liverpool fans will be rightly puzzled as to why the 31-year-old now earns as much as Insigine or Costa.