Many “highest-paid” lists, especially when analysing footballers, take into account all income streams, from brand endorsements to bonuses.
After analysing earnings data from a number of different sources, like Forbes, France Football and Total Sportek, Finance Football claims to have come up with the most reliable and comprehensive list of the world’s highest-paid football stars.
Its list ranks players based solely on base salary per year.
The prominence of Chinese-based players is interesting. Finance Football reveals that while China only started making big moves in the football world two years ago, it has managed to overtake the US to become the largest foreign investor in European football.
Earlier this year, a Chinese consortium bought AC Milan, one of Europe’s biggest and most successful clubs, for £622 million (R10,8 billion), reports Daily Mail. Chinese-based players are among some of the highest paid in the world.
Argentine Carlos Tévez shot up the the list earlier this year after signing a contract with Shanghai Shenhua. Tévez is estimated to be earning around £615 000 (R10,7 million) per week with the Chinese club, but he denied earning this sum in an interview with Daily Mail, saying that his “salary isn’t as high as the legends, but in order to respect my teammates, I won’t tell you how much”.
Here’s the complete list of the world’s highest-paid footballers, as compiled by Finance Football.
10. Wayne Rooney
Team: Manchester United
Earnings: €15,8 million
9. Axel Witsel
Team: Tianjin Quanjian
Earnings: €16 million
8. Neymar da Silva Santos
Team: Barcelona
Earnings: €17,6 million
7. Paul Pogba
Team: Manchester United
Earnings: €17,7 million
6. Gareth Bale
Team: Real Madrid
Earnings: €19,5 million
5. Hulk
Team: Shanghai SIPG
Earnings: €20 million
4. Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior
Team: Shanghai SIPG
Earnings: €24,4 million
3. Lionel Messi
Team: Barcelona
Earnings: €36 million
2. Carlos Tévez
Team: Shanghai Shenhua
Earnings: €37,5 million
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Team: Real Madrid
Earnings: €38,9 million
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Additional sources: Daily Mail and Finance Football
