Best paid footballers in the world

Best paid footballers in the world

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Discover the best paid footballers in the world, reigning supreme

FOOTBALL Best paid footballers in the world

Festus Chuma 09:28 - 24.05.2023

Discover the best paid footballers in the world, reigning supreme

The world of football is captivated by the passion of fans and the astronomical salaries earned by the best paid footballers in the world.

Fans around the globe are constantly intrigued by the salaries of the best paid footballers in the world, eagerly keeping tabs on the incredible amounts of money they earn. 

Obviously Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are some of the best paid footballers in the world as per BBC, but let us look at all the ten football players who earn the best salaries in the game.

10. Antoine Griezmann – $27.5m

Antoine Griezmann plays as a striker for LaLiga side Atletico Madrid. The 32-year-old Frenchman is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

best paid footballers in the world.
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The former Barcelona player is estimated by Forbes to be earning around $27.5m, which is a $22m salary from Atletico Madrid, and $5.5m in endorsements making him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

Antoine Griezmann, a serial winner with France, Atletico Madrid, and his former club Barcelona, has an estimated net worth of around £90 million making him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

9.  Kevin De Bruyne – $29m 

Kevin De Bruyne has been a vital cog at Manchester City since joining the club in 2015 and was part of the team that lifted the 2022-2023 English Premier League for the third consecutive time, at the same time, he is the best-paid footballers in the world.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 31-year-old midfielder earns around $29 million, including a $25.5m salary at Manchester City and $3.5m endorsements making him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne boasts an estimated net worth of around £60m to come in at ninth on the list of the best paid footballers in the world.

8. Raheem Sterling – $29.4m

The Chelsea star Raheem Sterling is the only England player on this list of the best paid footballers in the world.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Raheem Sterling of Chelsea is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 28-year-old gets $21.4 million in salary following the deal that he signed with the Blues in 2022. He also earns around $8.4 on endorsements which New Balance pays him for his boots and Apple for all of his technological needs, earning him a place in the list of the best paid footballers in the world.

Raheem Sterling has won four Premier League titles in seven years, four EFL Cups, and one FA Cup, and the closest he has come to Ballon d'Or glory so far was in 2021 when he finished 15th in the overall vote.

7. Andres Iniesta – $30m 

Vissel Kobe's midfielder Andres Iniesta is ranked as one of the best paid footballers in the world.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Andres Iniesta is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 39-year-old Spanish footballer earns around $30 million, with $23 million being salary and $7 million coming from endorsements, making him a place in the list of the best paid footballers in the world.

Andres Iniesta has an estimated net worth of around £120 million per year, and his monthly pay makes him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

6.Eden Hazard - $31.3m

Real Madrid's forward Eden Hazard is next on the list of the best paid footballers in the world. The Belgium international is also one of his country's most successful football players.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Real Madrid midfielder Eden Hazard is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 30-year-old star pay packet works out at $28.6 million per month and $2.5 million in endorsements which makes him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

Eden Hazard arrived at Santiago Bernabeu from Chelsea for a fee reported to be around $100 million, which would eventually rise to a club-record $146.1 million due to additional costs, making him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

5. Mohamed Salah- $39.5m

Liverpool's and Egypt striker Mohamed Salah is the fifth-highest best paid footballers in the world as he earns around $24.5 million in salary plus $15 million in endorsements.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 30-year-old attacker is also the highest-earning African player in football and has won a host of individual accolades for himself.

On the pitch, Mohamed Salah is predominantly known for his speed, movement, clinical finishing, agility, dribbling skills, first touch, and ball control, which are an asset to Liverpool, which pays him around £350,000 per week, ranking him as the fifth best paid footballers in the world.

4. Neymar- $91m

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian star Neymar is one of the most significant figures in world football, and his current earnings of $56 million in salary and $35 million in endorsements make him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

Best paid footballers in the world
Neymar is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The 31-year-old, who joined the Les Parisiens in 2017, signed a contract extension with PSG in 2021, and his weekly wages are pinned at $700,000 ,earning him a place in the best paid footballers in the world list.

According to Forbes, Neymar is the only soccer player to earn more off the pitch lucrative sponsorship deals, including Nike, Gillette, Panasonic and Beats by Dre, amongst others.

3. Lionel Messi $110m

The seven-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi topped the list of best paid footballers in the world at times, but he has since dropped to third, earning a $62 million salary.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Lionel Messi is is one of the best paid footballers in the world

The other $48 million that hits Lionel Messi's accounts comes from endorsements, licensing agreements, and sponsorship deals with Socios, Adidas, Budweiser, and Pepsi.

Lionel Messi also has investments, with the best known being in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina, where he is part of the Azahares del Parana project making him one of best paid footballers in the world.

2. Kylian Mbappé $125million

PSG and France striker Kylian Mbappe has established himself as one of the best forwards of his generation. The 24-year-old star signed a lucrative contract early last year to keep him at PSG until 2025.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Mbappe is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

Over the past 12 months, Mbappe was paid almost $110m for his on-pitch performances. His monthly earnings are at around $105 million; the other $20 million comes from endorsements, largely EA and Nike figures, earning him a place in the best-paid footballer in the world list.

By far, Kylian  Mbappe is the biggest earner currently playing in the Ligue 1, and looking exclusively at the top 30 contracts listed by L'Equipe, the striker's monthly salary covers the wages of more than the "bottom 20" players in it, making him one of the best paid footballers in the world.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo $208m

Al Nassr and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo ranks among the best paid footballers in the world, earning $208 million per month as per CNN.

Best paid footballers in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best paid footballers in the world.

The former Manchester United forward Cristiano  Ronaldo earns $74.6 million and $113 million in endorsements. He represents Nike alongside Altice, Herbalife, DAZN, MTG, Clear Shampoo, Abbott, and Unilever.

Cristiano Ronaldo signed for the Saudi Arabian side early this year, which nearly doubled his annual playing salary, with the contract having been estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220m) hence the top best paid footballers in the world list.