Marco Reus might not be among the top earners in MLS, but the German attacking star is making a comfortable living at LA Galaxy after ending his illustrious European career with Borussia Dortmund in 2024.
Following more than a decade in the Bundesliga, where he established himself as one of the finest German forwards of his generation, Reus made the move to Major League Soccer. While his farewell from European football wasn't ideal—coming off a Champions League final loss to Real Madrid—the versatile attacker appears to have found his rhythm in America's top flight.
According to the MLS salary guide, Reus currently earns $25,192 (£19,398) per week at LA Galaxy. This translates to an annual salary of $1.3 million (£1.08 million), making him the fifth-highest paid player at the club—a significant figure, though far from the astronomical numbers commanded by the world's top earners.
At LA Galaxy, the salary hierarchy puts Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig at the top of the earnings list, followed by Joseph Paintsil in second place. South American talents Gabriel Fortes Chaves and Diego Fagundez occupy the third and fourth spots respectively, with Reus rounding out the top five.
When expanding the view to include the entire MLS, Reus doesn't crack the top five earners league-wide. That exclusive group is headlined by Argentine legend Lionel Messi, with Italian star Lorenzo Insigne in second place. Another former Barcelona icon, Sergio Busquets, holds the third position, while Federico Bernardeschi and Emil Forsberg complete the top five highest-paid players across the league.
These MLS salaries, while substantial, pale in comparison to the world's highest-paid footballers. That list is dominated by players in the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr sitting comfortably at the summit. Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad claims the second spot, while Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli takes third. Senegalese internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly round out the global top five earners in football.
For Reus, the move to MLS represents a new chapter in a storied career. While his earnings might not match those of his days as a Bundesliga star, his impact on the pitch for LA Galaxy continues to demonstrate the quality that made him one of Germany's premier attacking talents.
