Jul 11, 2025 - News
D.C. United's lone star can't save season
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D.C. United's top-earning player, forward Christian Benteke, is pulling in over $3.5 million more than the next highest-paid player on the team.
State of play: The club just fired head coach Troy Lesesne after a lackluster start to his second season.
- The team is 12th in the eastern conference, and could miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season, the Washington Post notes.
Between the lines: D.C. United's roster struggled with one high-end, highly-paid "designated player," which is Benteke, per the Post. MLS teams can have up to three.
- The team's second-best compensated player is left winger Randall Leal, per the MLS Players Association.