Top 10 Highest Paid Footballers

Rating: 9.75/10
Written by: Subhankar Mondal
Sport: soccer
Genre: feature

Modern footballers earn in millions and here at Sportspundit we decided to compile a list of footballers who are the top earners in the most popular sport in the world. Of course, given that no footballer would actually reveal his own wage personally and data on such matters can be unreliable, the list is open to debate.

But this list has been compiled with a considerable research done, keeping in mind the various agencies who keep track of the players' wages and the reliability of their research and surveys.

10. John Terry (Chelsea)

The England international earns 11.7 million euros per year at Chelsea. Terry is rated as one of the best central defenders in entire Europe and is also a one-club player, having played for the London club since the start of his career.

9. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Frank Lampard is also a England international and plays for Chelsea too. He earns 13 million euros per annum and is rated as one of the best midfielders in the game.

8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Wayne Rooney is the best striker for the England national team and is also the star man at Manchester United now that Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid. The former Everton striker earns 13.5 million euros per annum at Old Trafford.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FC Barcelona)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the best player for Inter Milan in his three years with the Nerazzurri and earned a reported 14 million euros per year with the Italian champions. Now of course the Swede has joined Spanish and European champions FC Barcelona and it is likely that his wage will considerably increase.

6. Kaka (Real Madrid)

Kaka might now be playing at Spanish and European powerhouse Real Madrid and would be earning quite a lot but even when he was at Italian giants AC Milan last season he was still one of the best paid players. Sixth best paid, in fact, according to one survey with 15.1 million euros going into his bank account every year.

5. Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona)

Thierry Henry had a poor debut season with Barcelona in 2007-2008 but last season he was back to his best, banging in goals and creating them as well. The Arsenal legend won the Spanish first division title and the Champions League in 2008-2009 and is reportedly earning 17 million euros every year.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

At Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly going to earn lot more than he did at Manchester United but jaws would drop when you realize that at United the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or used to earn as much as 18.3 million euros every year. This summer he became the most expensive signing in football history when Madrid paid a whooping 93 million euros for the player to United.

3. Ronaldinho (AC Milan)

Ronaldinho is not the player he was at FC Barcelona but the 29-year-old was one of the top three earners in football last season. The World Cup and Champions League winner pocketed 19.6 million euros last season and is ranked as the third highest paid footballer in the world.

2. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)

He turned 22 only a few weeks back but Lionel Messi is already the second highest paid footballer in the world. The Argentine wonderkid earns about 28.6 million euros every year and he is currently the best player in the world and is certain to get better with the passage of the subsequent years. Messi is said to be the perfect player to replace Diego Armando Maradona as the world's greatest ever player and having won everything there is to be won in club football and already having established himself as the best and most talented footballer in the world, he is certainly on the right way.

1. David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

David Beckham might not play in Europe anymore but he still maintains his position as the world's best paid footballer. Beckham's five-year contract signed with MLS club LA Galaxy signed in 2007 implies that he earns around 32.4 million euros every year, easil

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Comments on this article

samson (visitor), Sep 19,2009 at 08:31

hello to all fanes out there

Nkeonye Henry (visitor), Feb 24,2010 at 17:59

FC BARCELONA IS STILL THE BEST IN THE WORLD

STEPHEN NJOROGE KARANJA (visitor), Mar 1,2010 at 01:53

REAL MADRID CAN OUTDO FC BARCELONA DUE TO THEIR RECENT FORM AND THEIR IN IN~FORM PLAYER C.RONALDO MIGHT BE VERY INFLUENTIAL BUT THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD IS ARSENAL FC.

josh (visitor), Mar 5,2010 at 22:09

I am a manchester city fan and it think my club is just five years away to earn thier place in history and roster of champions!!!!

AJANGNKWELLE (visitor), Mar 30,2010 at 09:30

I HOPE INTER MILLAN WILL DO IT TO THE FINALS BY BEATING FC BACELONA AT THE SEMI FINALS.

pjaki (visitor), Mar 31,2010 at 07:55

muhabete

kareem (visitor), Mar 31,2010 at 17:06

chelsea is the best in the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ajanaku nurien (visitor), Apr 7,2010 at 09:38

Hello... I'm Ajanaku Adekunle by name, i am a live fan of Arsenal Fc, but it's a pity that Barca defeated us yesterday night at there home nou... I just want to say Barca is still the best coz they are trying....

happi alex (visitor), Apr 15,2010 at 10:11

barca is best now nobody can defeat them

happi alex (visitor), Apr 15,2010 at 10:21

barca is best now nobody can defeat them

aycare4all (visitor), Apr 17,2010 at 04:28

iam manchester united football club fan,join the winning team now no matter the condition.thanks 4 ur corperation.

jashanth (visitor), Apr 19,2010 at 15:19

beckham has too much money

pk (visitor), Apr 23,2010 at 07:51

messi shld b the highest paid player now not beckam

Gyedu Alex Paa kwesi(Racks D) (visitor), Apr 24,2010 at 17:54

Barca is the best football club in the world

zain (visitor), Apr 26,2010 at 20:42

where is fabregas

ndbest (visitor), Apr 27,2010 at 07:06

messi is too young a footballer to handle such money.

Cornell4jei (visitor), Apr 27,2010 at 10:37

We are declaring 2dayz fasting and praya 4 d great barca 2 beat inter and make history again by lifting d trophy bak 2 bak amen

? (visitor), Apr 29,2010 at 12:44

fernando torres and steven gerrard should deffanatly be up there above lampard terry

canni (visitor), May 6,2010 at 14:01

frank lampard lead chelsea to greater heights.

jf (visitor), May 6,2010 at 14:38

all use who say messi is to young to andle money. messi doesnt cer about money nd isnt a show of like ronaldo beckham rooney he still has the sm audi his club bought him and isnt a show off nd he is well better footballer than anywun on the planet

matoro aka sturu (visitor), May 8,2010 at 11:45

hey messi should be the highest paid 10 times than the other player, because he is simply the best

ifeanyi ajakpo (visitor), May 11,2010 at 02:53

king messi where ever you go i go,up barca for life

thamsanqa jila (visitor), May 13,2010 at 09:15

messi iz the king of footballer in the planet

dele kbs nigeria (visitor), May 13,2010 at 09:58

try to update your research,messi is ahead of becham presently

Kennybaba (visitor), May 13,2010 at 17:41

Nomata what messi is stil the best player in the world .!!!

Prince Joeseph (visitor), May 15,2010 at 07:36

Messi is the second name of football because he is the best in the world and will always remain the best for a long long time period. Messi God of football.

Prince Joeseph (visitor), May 15,2010 at 07:42

Please try to update this site because messi currently is the world highest earner he stand at no 1

kwere kwere (visitor), May 16,2010 at 15:43

messi iz in a wrng position he shld b da highest paid player

Thendo marwala (visitor), May 17,2010 at 17:09

Am thendo marwala 4rm limpopo n am a man unt fan..i thnk wayn roony must be in da top 5 of the most paid becouse of his performence thise sesion

KWANELE (visitor), May 22,2010 at 15:30

HAI THENDO CN I GET UR CNTCT NUMBER?

KWANELE (visitor), May 22,2010 at 15:34

I DDNT MEAN IT THENDO

elvis (visitor), May 23,2010 at 04:06

drogba is the one of the top richest baller because he bouth a house for 15 million

Luther Mitchell (visitor), May 28,2010 at 08:35

I am a die hard man. united fan in Liberia and man. utd is playing as a team to be the best as it was it 2006-09 be a part.

MAC_COY (visitor), Jun 11,2010 at 06:59

PLEASE TRY TO UPDATE THE SITE FOR SAMUEL ETOO IS AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYERES

Messi-kid (visitor), Jun 11,2010 at 23:07

this is wrong messi wins more than beckham i think messi wins more than $60 million now

sbpdj, Jun 15,2010 at 11:05

i think kaka is very good player

ansal (visitor), Jun 23,2010 at 23:40

it,s toooooooooo old,now cristanio ronaldo is d most earning player

arjun (visitor), Jun 26,2010 at 12:51

beckham rulez

The WOOFER (visitor), Jun 29,2010 at 13:22

WOOFWOOF

bob (visitor), Jul 2,2010 at 09:58

Igbinoba ike (visitor), Jul 2,2010 at 15:01

Messi reigns but CR9 rules.

ned.coza (visitor), Jul 4,2010 at 13:13

messi cn neva b lyk cr9, ronaldo hz da best in da world

realmadril (visitor), Jul 14,2010 at 02:42

beckham is the most paid player and messi sucks

messi idiot (visitor), Jul 14,2010 at 02:46

messi is an idiot he lost vs germany 4 to 0 and argentina lost in the world cup 2010

leon31@3er (visitor), Jul 14,2010 at 02:47

messi suck my cock

MOSHOOD FROM UNILORIN (visitor), Jul 20,2010 at 06:54

MESSI IS D BEST IN D WORLD

ralph (visitor), Aug 3,2010 at 08:55

messi is good but someyimes he is just to simple.and thats is bad...

ralph (visitor), Aug 3,2010 at 08:55

messi is good but sometimes he is just too simple.and thats is bad...

dessy messidinho barca (visitor), Aug 4,2010 at 20:31

almighty messidona is best. I luv u soooo much. U r da ing best n i just luv ur skills. Dinho u shouldnt have left us(barca) we miss u pls return

Amanambu (visitor), Aug 8,2010 at 02:32

I am manchester fan no club can beat them now,champions league and all the league i for them

Amabreweries (visitor), Aug 8,2010 at 02:36

I am manchester fan no club can beat them now,champions league and all the league i for them

Amanambu peter (visitor), Aug 8,2010 at 02:58

Messi is champions league best not world best if u argue with me,we have seen it in the world without a goal is a pity.Yet boasting he will play mordern maradona.Infant without xavi and iniesta massi or méssi is nonsence.Diego forlan i luv u......?

Amanambu peter (visitor), Aug 8,2010 at 02:59

imradhmy (visitor), Aug 12,2010 at 23:58

well,i dnt really knw bwt who z da m0st paid footballer apart fr0m beckahm bt what i knw is dat cristian0 r0nald0 n messi boy should be up there after becks.....

Sam (visitor), Aug 23,2010 at 05:01

Gaucho is still hanging there,,,, guyz you all know he waz de best a player can be....Messi not there yet?

Eric love (visitor), Aug 30,2010 at 22:32

am erick love am a Chelsea Fanc's i can do whith out Chelsea the bull's i love you All my player's You all are bless but try to bering Charmpoin's laug for me.
John Terry and Dede Drogba.i love you

sazzad hossain (visitor), Sep 6,2010 at 08:08

messi is so good