Top 20 Highest-Paid Footballers
In the world of professional football, salaries are often stratospheric and can dwarf those in other sports. The top 20 highest-paid footballers in the world are currently earning a combined $1.4 billion annually, with the highest-paid footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, taking home a staggering $108 million each year. Here is a look at the 20 highest-paid footballers in the world and how much they are earning annually.
Top 20 Highest-Paid footballers
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer in the world, earning a whopping $88 million! The majority of his earnings come from his salary and bonuses from Juventus, as well as endorsements with Nike, DAZN, and Herbalife. He also has a line of CR7-branded products, including clothing, shoes, and perfume. In total, Ronaldo brings in an estimated $47 million from endorsements alone.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is certainly one of the highest-paid. The Argentinian and Barcelona star raked in a reported $127 million last year, including $92 million from salary and winnings, and $35 million from endorsements. With a net worth of an estimated $400 million, there’s no doubt that Messi is earning his keep. And with four Ballon d’Or awards to his name, he’s one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Neymar
Brazilian professional footballer Neymar Jr. tops the list of highest-paid footballers in the world, earning a staggering $75 million annually. The 27-year-old began his career with Santos FC, before joining Barcelona for a record-breaking fee of $222 million in 2017. He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, where he is contracted to earn $33.6 million per year. In addition to his base salary, Neymar also earns a huge amount of money from endorsements with major brands like Nike, Panasonic, and Red Bull.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is the world’s highest-paid footballer, earning an estimated $105 million annually. He first came to prominence with Tottenham Hotspur, for whom he scored 21 goals in his debut season. In 2013, he was transferred to Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of $85.3 million. Bale has since won two Champions League titles and one La Liga title with Real Madrid. He has also been named Welsh Footballer of the Year a record six times.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is the third highest-paid footballer, earning an annual salary of €64.5 million. The 32-year-old Uruguayan striker currently plays for Spanish giants Barcelona and has been with the club since 2014. Before that, he spent three years with Liverpool, where he won the League Cup and was named PFA Player of the Year.
Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero has been named one of the top 20 highest-paid footballers. The striker, who plays for English club Manchester City, is said to earn a staggering £500,000 a week. This puts him at number four on the list, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar.
Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez is the highest-paid footballer in the world, earning £350,000 a week. He began his career as a youth player for Cobreloa at age 17, making his professional debut in 2006. He later moved to Udinese Calcio in 2008. In 2011, he joined Barcelona for £25 million.
Hulk
Brazilian footballer Hulk is one of the top highest-paid footballers, earning an estimated $25.1 million per year. The 32-year-old currently plays for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League and has previously played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Porto, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Chelsea.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is the highest-paid footballer, earning an annual salary of $32 million. The English striker currently plays for DC United in Major League Soccer (MLS) and is the all-time leading goalscorer for both Manchester United and the England national team. Before joining MLS, Rooney spent 13 seasons with Manchester United, where he won 16 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Eden Hazard
Hazard is the sixth highest-paid footballer in the world, earning an annual salary of $35 million. The 28-year-old has been one of the top players in the world for several years now, and his recent move to Spanish giants Real Madrid has only increased his earnings. Hazard is also one of the most marketable footballers in the world, with numerous endorsement deals that add up to millions of dollars each year.
Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure is the 20th highest-paid footballer in the world, earning an annual salary of $22 million. The Ivorian midfielder began his career with ASEC Mimosas in his home country before moving to Europe to play for Belgian club Beveren. He then spent time with Olympiacos, Metalurh Donetsk, and AS Monaco before joining FC Barcelona in 2007. Toure helped Barcelona win two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League before moving to Manchester City in 2010.
Paul Pogba
With an annual salary of $28.8 million, Paul Pogba is not only one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, but also one of the richest athletes period. The French midfielder is currently signed to Manchester United, where he earns a base salary of $19 million per year. In addition to his salary, Pogba also receives around $9.8 million from various endorsement deals with companies like Adidas, Jacob & Co., and others.
Oscar
Brazilian professional footballer Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, commonly known as Oscar, is currently one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. He plays for the Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG and earns a reported £400,000 per week.
Kevin De Bruyne
Belgian professional footballer Kevin De Bruyne currently plays for the English Premier League club Manchester City and the Belgian national team. As of 2019, he is the second highest-paid footballer in the world, earning an annual salary of €20 million. In 2018, he was named by The Guardian as one of the ten best footballers in the world.
