What the MLS salary guide tells us about Teenage Hadebe, Cincinnati’s roster math, and the league’s widening pay gap

The MLS Players Association’s Spring 2026 salary guide has fans digging into what FC Cincinnati is paying for defensive depth — and what it signals about Teenage Hadebe’s role in the squad. While the exact 2026 figure tied to Hadebe’s deal isn’t consistently clear across public trackers, the broader salary data shines a light on how MLS roster building is evolving under a star-driven economy.