Top 5 Highest Paid Players in Liga MX
By Sam Plummer
Clubs from around Liga MX have been willing to splash the cash in order to persuade stars to represent their colours. Whether they come from within Mexico or overseas, the top five highest earners are names that have elevated the status of the league across the last few years.
The report has been provided by MARCA, who confirm that Giakoumakīs' move to Los Azules shakes up the order of highest earners in the league. Their report does not take into account the arrivals of Óliver Torres from Sevilla or Paulinho from Sporting Lisbon, two players who will likely be towards the top end of earners in the upcoming Liga MX campaign.
5. Giōrgos Giakoumakīs, Cruz Azul, $3 Million Per Year
The newest addition to this list is Cruz Azul's latest signing, Giōrgos Giakoumakīs. The Greek international was set to compete in the European Championships this summer, but Greece's decisive playoff loss to Georgia ended those hopes. Nonetheless, Giakoumakīs is a seasoned journeyman, now preparing to play in his sixth country. He previously played for AEK Athens, Górnik Zabrze, VVV Venlo, Celtic, Atlanta United, and now Cruz Azul.
An electric forward, Giakoumakīs excels at scoring from both long-range and inside the box. He can run in behind defences and win aerial battles, making him a constant threat to opposing teams. Joining the Clausura finalists, his primary task will be to boost their attacking prowess. While Los Azules were among the most resilient defensively, their downfall in the loss to Club América was their inability to truly test and trouble the Aguilas' backline.
4. Rogelio Funes Mori, Pumas, $3.8 Million Per Year
A winter 2024 signing which sparked excitement across UNAM as Funes Mori joined the club after seven years with Monterrey. During Rogelio's time up north, the naturalised Mexican Argentine scored a staggering 132 goals in 268 games, almost a record of one goal every two games. The striker moved to Mexico after a brief spell in Europe where he spent two seasons with Benfica in Portugal before a year loan in Turkey with Eskişehirspor. Failing to find his form, a move to Mexico better suited the forward. Since moving to the capital, Funes Mori has struggled to match his form for Pumas. Scoring just once in 12 games, the forward will be hoping that an extended break before the 2024 Apertura will help him kick into gear as he prepares for a first full season with the club.
3. Chicharito Hernández, Chivas, $4 Million Per Year
Chicharito will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most iconic football players from Mexico. At just 22, he made a remarkable switch from Chivas to Manchester United, where he excelled, netting 59 goals over four seasons. His time at United also culminated in two Premier League titles, before legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired from the game. Hernández later became the highest-scoring Mexican in Premier League history, thanks to his additional two seasons with West Ham United. His career also included notable stints with Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen before spending three years with the Los Angeles Galaxy. In an emotional homecoming, Chicharito returned to his boyhood club 14 years after leaving. Despite the joy of his return in January 2024, Hernández has yet to score for Los Rojiblancos, but this is likely to be the final chapter of his incredible professional journey.
2. André-Pierre Gignac, Tigres, $4.6 Million Per Year
Adored by Mexicans far and wide, Andre-Pierre Gignac is a world-class goalscorer who stunned the football world in 2015 by leaving Marseille for Tigres. His move attracted significant attention from Europe to Liga MX, as a player at the peak of his career chose to switch from regular continental football to a new life in Mexico. Almost a decade later, the veteran shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to play a crucial role for UNAL Tigres. Representing France at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 UEFA European Championship, Gignac has scored an impressive 179 goals in 323 games in Mexican football and has won the Liga MX title four times. His stellar career easily justifies his place on this list, cementing his status as a true legend who will forever be cherished by Mexican football fans.
1. Sergio Canales, Monterrey, $5 Million Per Year
The highest earner in Mexican football is Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales. Canales, aged 33, is certainly one of the bigger names with a big reputation in Liga MX. The Spanish international once represented Real Madrid, before establishing himself with Real Betis, Sociedad and Valencia. The attacking midfielder made his move from Spain to Mexico in the summer of 2023 and was convinced with a lucrative deal running until 2026. So far, Canales has been a superb addition for Los Rayados, bringing composure and quality to piece together attacking moves as the club reached the Clausura semi final.
Excitement rings around the Estadio BBVA, with the addition of Torres from Sevilla, fans are expecting to see an improvement in attacking quality with two experienced and intelligent maestros pulling the strings.
Will there be any more signings this summer which make a change to this list? Let us know what you think!