Thierry Henry Tops David Beckham as MLS' Highest Paid: A Fan's Reaction

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

According to salary figures released Friday by the MLS Players Union; former Arsenal star Thierry Henry has surpassed David Beckham as the highest paid player. Beckham's salary was cut nearly 38 percent in his new contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy

Beckham's total recompense will be $4 million this year, which contrasts to the $6.5 million annual salary he received over the course of his first Galaxy deal. He signed a new two-year deal with L.A. in January after being enticed by French club Paris Saint-Germain, which allegedly presented the English midfielder $18.7 million for just 18 months. That's a lot of money, but when you like L.A. as much as the Beckham's do, the rejection makes since.

Henry may have surpassed Beckham in his playing salary, but with all of Beckham's endorsements, I'm sure he dwarfs Henry in overall earnings. Beckham is such a commodity that he probably looks at his MLS salary as chump-change.

After his short stint on loan with Arsenal earlier this year, Henry has become one of the most important ambassadors of world wide soccer; he certainly has one of the most recognizable faces. Is he more recognizable than David Beckham? No, but you really are starting to see him in advertisements and in more ESPN coverage of the sport. It also helps that he's playing for the Red Bulls whose home is New York. Beckham could play for a team in Juneau, Alaska and still be one of the most popular athletes in the world.

Henry will get paid $5.6 million per season, the same amount he earned in 2011, trailed by New York teammate Rafa Márquez at $4.6 million in total compensation. Beckham is third, while Galaxy forward Robbie Keane is in fourth at $3.4 million. $5.6 million, that's a lot of 40-foot fish tanks for Henry. With that kind of money he could build a 60-foot aquarium.

What's next for Henry? Will he try getting involved in television or movies? I hope he doesn't agree to do some cheesy reality show on E! He's got the looks, the personality; with how bad television is right now, I'm sure a producer wouldn't mind dishing out some bucks for a camera crew to follow him around.

With the kind of money he's earning, it's only a matter of time before he becomes as big in the United States as he is in England. And in America, people seem to love athletes who make a lot of money.