MLS player salaries revealed: Kaka is the division's highest earner, but why does Bradley Wright-Phillips get so much more than brother Shaun?

The practice of past-it players migrating to MLS to play out the twilight of their careers is no new trick and with a chance to extend their stay on the pitch just a little longer and collect a handsome pay-packet at the same time, it's not hard to see why. 

As the MLS Players Union released the details of salaries on Tuesday, there were more than a few observations that raised eyebrows for one reason or another. Kaka, winner of the Balon d'Or in 2007 when playing for AC Milan, is currently the highest paid footballer in the division at Orlando City. The 33-year-old is raking in a yearly wage of $6,660,000.

Former Balon d'Or winner Kaka is the highest paid player in MLS, it has been revealed

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is now paid $6,200,004 per annum at LA Galaxy

Shaun-Wright Phillips (left above) is paid far less than his younger brother Bradley at New York Red Bulls. Elsewhere, Shaun-Wright Phillips earns significantly less than his brother Bradley at New York Red Bulls.

Older sibling Shaun is on $116,004 per year, while free-scoring Bradley is paid $600,000. Steven Gerrard, thelegendary former Liverpool captain who left Merseyside in the summer, is earning $6,200,004 per annum at LA Galaxy. 

Kevin Doyle, meanwhile, who won League One with Wolves back in 2014, isn't doing badly for himself. It's modest compared to Kaka or Gerrard, sure, but the Republic of Ireland international is still on $1,125,000 a year. 

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is taking home £1,666,668 per annum from Montreal Impact, as his team-mate and ex-West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker is paid the comparatively meagre $275,000. 

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is playing out the twilight of his career at Montreal Impact in MLS

Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker is now turning out for Montreal Impact as well

Liam Ridgwell, 31, who previously turned out for midlands rivals West Brom, Birmingham City and Aston Villa, is on $1,000,000 a year at Portland Timbers. 

New York City FC, part of the same City Football Group that owns Manchester City, and bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi United Group, can boast several former world-famous stars on their books. 

Classy Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo is paid $2,000,004 a year while former Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa is paid $5,610,000. Frank Lampard, Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer, is on slightly less than Gerrard with a flat rate of $6,000,000.  

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is earning $6,000,00 per year at New York City FC in MLS

Rohan Banerjee writes from MailOnline