The TOP TEN Highest Paid Players In World Football

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3 years ago

Categories: Galleries, West Ham United News

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Footballers are among the highest paid sportsman in the world and their earnings have continued to increase as clubs offer them ever more lucrative contracts.

Sponsorships for certain individuals can, though, almost outstrip the wages they earn playing for their respective teams, and business magazine Forbes combine the two figures to come up with their list of the top-earning players.

The names included are not surprising, although their positions in the rankings will certainly be of interest to some people,

Press the next page as we list the top ten highest paid players who are currently plying their trade in professional football.

10) Eden Hazard

The Belgian signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid after signing from Chelsea in 2019. While his time at the Bernabeu has been plagued by injury, he has still been compensated financially, making around $29m through wages and endorsements.

9) Gareth Bale

The Welshman is currently in the last year of his contract at Real Madrid, where he is paid $26m a year. With sponsorships added to the figure, he earns around $32m.

8) Paul Pogba

The Manchester United midfielder is actually still on the contract he signed all the way back in 2016. Currently, the Frenchman is earning $34m in total but that may increase soon when he signs a new deal with United or another club.

7) Andres Iniesta

Many fans would be forgiven for thinking that the 37-year-old had retired but he is earning a princely sum ($35m a year in salary and endorsements) in Japan, where he has been playing for Vissel Kobe for the last three years.

6) Robert Lewandowski

The Polish goal machine has been in incredible form in recent years, and while he is ranked sixth on this list, earning $35m, there is an expectation that he will leave Bayern Munich either next year or at the end of his contract in 2023. That could lead to a substantial increase in his wages.

5) Mohamed Salah

Liverpool’s number 11 is currently earning $41m when you combine both his wages and sponsorship income, but with two years remaining on his current deal, he is said to be demanding a sizeable pay rise to stay at Anfield.

4) Kylian Mbappe

The first of three Paris Saint-Germain players on this list, many believe the Frenchman is the heir to Messi when it comes to being the world’s greatest player. At the age of 21, he is already earning approximately $43m but that could increase substantially if and when he agrees a new contract. Whether that is at PSG or Real Madrid, we shall see.

3) Neymar

The PSG forward is on a staggering $95m when you combine salary and endorsements. He has been handsomely rewarded after making the record-breaking move to PSG from Barcelona in 2017.

2) Lionel Messi

The Argentinian great is no longer at the top of this list, but he is still earning $110m from wages and sponsorship deals. After moving from Barcelona to PSG, it is hard to gauge how that will impact his earnings.

1) Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese legend is currently earning $70m in terms of his salary, with another $55m in sponsorships and endorsements, taking his total to $125m, which is marginally more than Messi.