How much money Thomas Müller and other Vancouver Whitecaps players make
The Vancouver Whitecaps are spending more than ever on their players.
At least, it’s translated on the pitch.
The Whitecaps are enjoying their hottest start in franchise history, posting an 8-2-1 record through their first 11 games. They’ve done everything possible to distract from the ongoing relocation saga.
So, how much are Whitecaps players being compensated for their hard work?
On Tuesday, the MLSPA released its biannual salary guide, outlining base salary and guaranteed compensation for all players in the league.
After ranking 17th last season in terms of guaranteed compensation to their players, the Whitecaps have rocketed all the way up to fifth overall. In terms of actual dollars spent, their compensation to players has increased by 21.5 per cent. That’s the fifth-largest jump in MLS.
Here’s how much every Whitecaps player is making in 2026.
Data courtesy MLSPA.
For the first time, we now know Thomas Müller’s salary, and it’s slightly lower than expected.
The 36-year-old is making $5.2 million of guaranteed compensation this year, coming lower than then $7.5 million that was previously projected by Sports Illustrated.
Müller’s contract is the 10th-largest in MLS in terms of actual salary. When judging the contract by the percentage of team salary share, his contract ranks 14th. Müller’s deal accounts for 21 per cent of all salary dished out to Whitecaps players.
Vancouver now has eight players on their roster making more than $1 million per season, an increase from five players when the salary list was released last October.
Müller, Ryan Gauld, Andres Cubas, Mathias Laborda, and Brian White were among the Whitecaps million-dollar players last season. The new additions to the list are Cheikh Sabaly, Sam Adekugbe, and Emmanuel Sabbi.
The highest-paid player in the MLS is, unsurprisingly, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. He’s making $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation this season, which is more than the Whitecaps’ entire roster. That’s a bump up from last season, where Messi made $20 million.