South African footballers are quietly building serious wealth across the Atlantic, with newly released Major League Soccer salary figures confirming that several Bafana Bafana-linked stars are earning the kind of money that would turn heads back home. The latest data from the MLS Players Association has put exact numbers to what many suspected — playing in America is paying off in a big way for South African talent.
Leading the local pack is Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who is pulling in a remarkable $1,142,500 per year — roughly R18.8 million annually. The winger, who has become one of the more recognisable South African names in MLS, has clearly earned his place among the league’s better-compensated players. For context, that salary comfortably places him in a bracket most South African Premier Soccer League players can only dream about.
Not far behind is Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who is earning $655,620 per year — approximately R10.8 million. Mbokazi has been making steady strides in the American league, and these figures confirm he is being taken seriously both on the pitch and at the negotiating table. It’s the kind of financial validation that speaks volumes about the growing reputation of South African footballers abroad.
Olwethu Makhanya rounds out the middle tier of the South African earners, bringing home $338,875 per year — around R5.6 million. While that figure may sit lower than his compatriots, it still represents a life-changing income and a strong platform for further growth in one of the world’s most commercially driven football leagues. Makhanya’s presence in MLS adds to a growing list of South Africans making their mark in North American football.
South African MLS Salaries Reflect Growing Global Demand for Local Football Talent
Completing the group is Puso Dithejane, who is earning $283,252 annually — close to R4.6 million. Dithejane’s inclusion in these figures is a reminder that South African football is producing players capable of competing and earning at an international level. It’s a narrative we at SA Report believe deserves far more attention than it typically receives in local sports media.
To put these figures into full perspective, the MLS salary landscape is headlined by none other than Lionel Messi, who earns an almost incomprehensible $28.33 million per year — equivalent to roughly R462 million annually. While our South African stars aren’t quite in that stratosphere, the gap between their earnings and the PSL’s pay scale is enormous, and that tells its own story about the opportunities available beyond our borders.
The release of these salary figures comes at a time when South African football is generating renewed interest, both domestically and internationally. Hlongwane in particular has been on the radar of football followers across the continent, and his salary now places him among the more valuable South African exports in world football at this moment. These aren’t fringe figures — these are players earning competitive wages in a serious, well-funded league.
What this data ultimately shows is that South African football talent has genuine market value on the global stage. The MLS Players Association salary disclosures offer a rare, transparent look at exactly what clubs are willing to pay, and for four South Africans to feature at respectable levels is something the local football community should take real pride in. As investment in MLS continues to grow and the league’s profile rises ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on American soil, the financial rewards for players in the league are only likely to increase — and South Africa appears to have feet firmly in the door.