Football is easily one of the most revered sports on Earth. Every year, billions of dollars flow into the sport, and millions of people watch the games from all over the world, fueling the sport’s popularity even further. Professional football players are considered celebrities in every respect. Not only are their faces always glued to the media, but every little detail of their lives is also scrutinized, and they are incredibly wealthy. Footballers are paid ridiculous sums of money and the more talented you are, the more money you earn. In addition to their huge salaries, football players also enjoy several lucrative sources of income through endorsement deals, sponsorship and more.
Top 10 richest footballers in the world
1. Christiano Ronaldo – Net worth $450 million
Ronaldo is one of the two most famous footballers in the world. You can’t have a conversation about sports without his name slipping out somehow. So far, the star athlete has played in three major leagues: English, Spanish and Italian. He also broke several records along the way. He joined Manchester United as a teenager in 2003, where he stayed for 6 years and won his first ever Ballon d’Or title, before moving to Real Madrid. He led his new side to numerous league and league titles, becoming their all-time top scorer, and adding four Ballon d’Or titles to his trophy cabinet.
You shouldn’t be told that he is one of the richest footballers, the Portuguese striker earns over $61 million a year playing for his club. On the side, Ronaldo has signed deals with big brands like Nike, Motorola, Armando, EA Sports and Tag Heuer. It also collaborates with other organizations to manufacture its own branded products like clothes, perfumes and underwear. Ronaldo is the father of four children: three handsome boys and a girl.
2. Lionel Messi – Net Worth $400 Million
Messi is a man who needs no introduction. Whether you’re a football fan or have never watched a game in your life, you’ve probably heard his name and seen pictures of him. He is arguably the greatest and most popular football player who has ever lived. His fantastic leg work and scoring abilities are the stuff of legends, and the only player considered his rival is Christiano Ronaldo.
The Argentine plays for Barcelona where he earns over half a million every week and $84m a year. Messi has scored over 600 goals in his professional career, won five Ballon d’Or awards, including three in a row. Nicknamed “Little Magician”, he carried his team to many victories, winning awards and becoming the most decorated player in the world.
Although Messi is not as commercially his rival, he has also signed deals with Adidas, Turkish Airlines, EA Sports, Gillette and Pepsi. He recently married his longtime girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo and they have three sons together.
3. Neymar Jr da Silva – Net worth $185 million
This super talented dribbling wizard hails from Brazil is the third richest footballer in the world. Neymar is easily one of the best strikers in the game today and is seen as the natural successor after Messi and Ronaldo. The former Barcelona player broke transfer records with a €222m move to Paris Saint Germain in 2017, which undoubtedly accelerated his earnings and earning power.
By the age of 20, Neymar had already scored his 100th goal, a feat most footballers can only dream of. His magical dribbling and finishing skills have been compared to those of footballing legends like Pelé. The star currently earns $73 million from his club a year. Off the court, his handsome face and sunny temperament have earned him endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Nike, Gillette, Red Bull, McDonald’s, Volkswagen, Unilever and Panasonic. With age on his side and sport being the bag of money that he is, he could well become football’s first billionaire.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Net worth $190 million
Zlatan built a brand around himcontroversy, and this arrogant belief in himself – he patented his own name in Sweden. This, along with his undoubted talent, has made him one of the most popular players in the world today. The star striker has played for nine clubs in his 19-year career, including Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United. He won numerous awards along the way, including the Golden Boot.
Zlatan is currently signed to LA Galaxy where he earns an annual salary of $1.4 million, a huge pay cut from the $27 million he earned at his former club.
Away from football, Zlatan owns a sportswear company, which earns him extra millions. He also has his own line of perfumes. His controversial nature has also made him a business magnet, which is why he deals with global brands like Nivea, Microsoft Xbox, Volvo, and Nike. Combined with the signing bonus accumulated over the years, it’s easy to see why the Swedish striker is one of the richest footballers right now.
5. Alexander Pato – Net worth $145 million
This Brazilian striker is one of the richest footballers dominating the sport at present. He started his football career in 2000 with Internacional, although he didn’t appear in his first game until 6 years later. He was quick to publicize his prowess, scoring 12 goals in 27 games and helping his team win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. He joined Milan in 2007, where he continued his exploits. He received several awards for his achievements, including the Golden Boy, the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award, as well as league titles for his club. Pato currently plays for Tianjin Quanjian, a Chinese club.
Undoubtedly, Pato is a top rated football player and this is demonstrated by the amount of money he is paid in the form of salary. He brings in around $46 million in annual revenue, thanks to his salary, shrewd investments, real estate, and expensive endorsement deals with CoverGirl Cosmetics. He also owns a burger chain, a football team, a vodka brand, a fashion line, and a top-selling perfume brand.
6. Wayne Rooney – Net worth $120 million
The Englishman is one of the most famous footballers in the world. He spent most of his career at Manchester United where he became their top scorer. He is considered the richest and most talented player England has produced. As early as 2004, while playing for Everton as a teenager, Rooney was earning around £150,000 a week, which doubled after taking his skills to Old Trafford. He currently plays for DC United in the MLS.
Rooney led his team to victory in the Premier League as well as Championships. His fame and skills have allowed him to diversify his income portfolio. He has signed endorsement deals with brands like Samsung, Nike, and Ford. He signed a record-breaking €5 million contract with Harper Collins which also contributed to his net worth. It’s no surprise that Rooney is one of the richest footballers in the world. The English sensation has been married to Coleen Rooney for a long time and they share four adorable children.
7. Gareth Bale – Net worth $110 million
The Real Madrid striker is known for his powerful shots which most often land in the net. He joined the club in 2013 for the record transfer fee of €100m and was instrumental in his team, winning two FIFA Club World Cups, four league titles, two Super Cups and one. League.
Bale currently earns around $28.6 million a year as the club’s salary. The Welshman also enjoys extra income from the proceeds of a business he owns with his parents. The lucrative sponsorship deals that have come his way also help to increase his wealth. It is currently sponsored by Adidas, Foot Locker, EA Sports, Electronic Arts, Lucozade, and Sony. Bale has three children with his fiancée, Ema Rhys-Jones.
8. Eden Hazard – Net worth $100 million
Hazard is a talented midfielder who plays for Chelsea and is popularly regarded as one of the best players in the game right now, second only to the sport’s Ronaldos and Messis. The Belgian has enjoyed impressive form both in the league and at national and league level. His mother and father were also footballers, she played as a striker while he was in a defensive position in midfield. Hazard is an incredible passer and playmaker, he has received critical acclaim for his superb skills.
The midfielder brings in £200,000 weekly in wages. It also brings millions of endorsement deals from big and small brands. Some of the organizations on its list include FIFA video games, Nike, Topps and Lotus Bakeries, makers of Biscoff cookies. The Chelsea midfielder has three sons with his beautiful wife, Natasha Van Honacker.
9. Samuel Eto’o net worth $95 million
Eto’o is Cameroon’s top scorer with a total of 56 goals in 118 matches. He started playing football at a young age and later joined Real Madrid in 1997, although his age did not allow him to play in the first team. He would score 4 goals in 30 games, attracting interest from big clubs like Everton, Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan. He is the only African footballer ranked at the top of the list of the richest footballers. During his five seasons at Barcelona, he scored over 100 goals. He also played for Chelsea and Everton.
Capitalizing on the popularity brought by his numerous title wins and talent, he signed a contract with Puma which pays $7 million a year. He currently plays for Anzhi Makhachkala, a Turkish club where he earns $25 million a year in salaries.
10. Andres Iniesta – Net worth of $90 million
This Spanish midfielder and former Barcelona player is considered one of the most iconic football players of his generation. His ability on the ball has left viewers and pundits mesmerized for years. He is a respected player for club and country, serving as captain for both. He joined Barcelona through their youth academy, La Masia, and played his first first-team game in 2002 aged 18. Since then, he has helped the team win two trebles and 33 trophies, including nine La Ligas and four Champions League titles.. He is the most decorated Spanish player in history.
Despite signing a lifetime contract with his beloved football club in 2017, Iniesta announced his departure from Barcelona in 2018. He made his final appearance in his 674th appearance in the season finale against Barcelona. Real Sociedad and received a thunderous standing ovation from fans at the stadium and viewers around the world.. Iniesta now plays for Japanese side, Vessel Kobe.
The veteran footballer earns around $30 million annually through salaries at his new club. It also enjoys a steady stream of income through sponsorship deals with brands like Nike, UFX.com, Nissan and Japanese sportswear brand, Asics. Considering this, it’s easy to see why he is one of the richest footballers in the world.