Footballers are among the highest paid athletes in the world. But who will collect the highest salaries in 2022? Read on to find out more.
The most promising footballers are not only known for putting on an excellent show on the field, but also for signing expensive contracts with famous football clubs and earning handsome salaries, in addition to numerous endorsements that vouch for their marketability.
It is a known fact that soccer is the most popular and watched sport in the world. Over the decades it has become as lucrative as it is fun. In fact, money and football go hand in hand in the professional world. And for the lucky few, six-figure salaries are commonplace, with some well-known players like Messi and Ronaldo ranking among the highest-earning athletes not just in football but in the sporting world in general. Then there are the ordinary soccer enthusiasts whose deep love for the game doesn’t extend to their skills on the pitch, so instead try a fun soccer-themed online slot that offers some great free spins. After all, this could possibly be the only profitable game they can play in their lifetime.
It’s not uncommon for the best soccer players to be among the highest paid athletes in general. Here are eight such soccer players who are making millions due to their excellent reputation on the field and star value.
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Neymar Jr.
Neymar is one of the most prominent, respected and bankable names in the football universe. This young Brazilian professional footballer earns an impressive estimated annual salary of $42.5 million.
Famous for playing alongside other sports greats like Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona, Neymar joined Paris-Saint Germain after signing a record $261.5 million contract in 2017, adding an additional $25 million a year to him.
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Lionel Messi
Messi is a feast for the eyes when he plays on the field, always stunning the crowd with his impressive form. The player is also the highest paid soccer player in the world and has a net worth of $400 million. He has also been the highest-paid player in LaLiga Santander for several years.
After leaving FC Barcelona, Messi joined PSG with teammate and friend Neymar and collected a $295,000 sign-up fee. Given his high salary and other sponsorship deals with brands like Adidas and Pepsi, Messi’s bank balance is growing exponentially.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the highest paid footballers and is sometimes on par with Messi and Neymar in terms of wealth. The Portuguese goal machine has a net worth of around $500 million.
The 37-year-old player earns $690,000 a week and is the face of big brands like Tag Heuer and Nike. Ronaldo also owns a diverse investment portfolio with names like Volkswagen and Apple.
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Gerhard Pique
Another popular name in the world of soccer, Pique is a club legend with an estimated net worth of $80 million. The Spaniard is one of the most expensive defenders in the world.
Despite taking a huge pay cut to extend his stay at Barcelona, Pique still earns a whopping $23.8m annually. The defender is currently the fourth highest paid footballer in the world.
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Gareth Bale
This Welsh footballer is known as one of the star players of Real Madrid, who paid $100 million for him in 2013. The transfer was a record-breaking deal at the time. Currently, Bale has a net worth of approximately $150 million.
In addition to his salary, the 32-year-old forward makes about $11 million annually through brand endorsements.
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Kylian Mbappe
The youngster is a force to be reckoned with on the field and boasts an impressive value of $176 million. The forward has a promising career ahead of him and a financially rich life judging by the number of brand endorsements in his kitty.
The Frenchman currently plays for PSG and is expected to join Real Madrid in 2022. He earns around $13 million from endorsement deals with Nike, EA Sports and Hublot.
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Kevin De Bruyne
Last but not least is Belgian professional footballer Kevin De Bruyne who is known as a top midfielder for Manchester City. Bruyne has a net worth of $30 million as of 2022. The captain of the Belgium football team is also the second highest paid player in the Premier League.
With multiple sponsors including Nike, EA Sports and Orange, the versatile athlete earns $19.1 million annually.