Josef Martinez Among Atlanta United Stars Who Saw 2019 Salary Boost

Josef Martinez rode Atlanta United FC’s title-winning 2018 to a big payday — but he’s still not the king of MLS salaries.

Major League Soccer’s Players Union on Wednesday released the annual salaries for its players, which includes a few details on the United star forward’s five-year contract extension signed in January.

Martinez’s 2019 salary jumped 136%, from about $1.27 million to a $3 million base salary, with $3.06 million in total guaranteed compensation. The Venezuelan’s raise followed a record-setting season in which he scored 31 goals and became the first MLS player to win All-Star, regular season and MLS Cup MVP honors in the same season. The 26-year-old has 10 goals and two assists through 15 matches in 2019.