MLS salary list: Andrea Pirlo and Didier Drogba making modest sums in 2015

The Major League Soccer Players Union released its biannual player salary list on Tuesday, and while the league welcomed plenty of big names this year, it seems all stars don't shine equally where the bank is concerned.

New York City midfielder Andrea Pirlo and Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba were playing for some of the biggest teams in the world last season, but the two iconic players are paying the old-man tax with shockingly low salaries in 2015. Pirlo, 36, is on a guaranteed $2,315,694 before taxes while Drogba, 37, makes $2,166,668.

Compared to their teammates, it's a huge payday and, frankly, aging stars don't come to the MLS looking to finally make their fortunes; the two are likely already well off due to their long European careers in the top flight of Italian and English football.

But, compared to some of the other aging stars in the league, Pirlo and Drogba might be feeling slightly shortchanged.

LA Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard, 35, is making a pretty penny at $6,332,504, while Drogba's former Chelsea teammate, Frank Lampard, is sitting on a cool $6-million figure this year with NYCFC.

Heck, even Mexican international Giovani dos Santos, who bounced around in Europe before settling down in Los Angeles, is making $5,750,008.

But it's all for good reason. The two joined the league late on and their 2015 compensation reflects that timing. Since the league operates on a different seasonal schedule than most European leagues, players who join MLS sides from across the pond often do so during the tail end of the regular season, as their old club's year comes to a close.

So, while Drogba and Pirlo are listed in the $2-million range, that number could change after a full season, depending on the terms of their overall contract. Because the league has a non-disclosure policy, speculating on players' contract situations is difficult.

Orlando City captain Kaka ($7,167,500) and Toronto FC ace Sebastian Giovinco ($7,115,555) spearhead the list as the two highest-paid players in the league, respectively.

There were a few surprises: Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer ($518,750), new TFC boy Hercules Gomez ($261,000), and New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan ($537,500) are doing quite well for themselves, too.