Top Earners in Football World Cup of 2017
In the world of football, the top earners are not only distinguished for their sporting excellence but also for their marketability. Here, we take a look at the top 10 highest-paid footballers of 2021, based on their annual salaries and contracts.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, currently at Al-Nassr, commands the highest salary of £170.3 million per year, a reflection of his global stature and continued high performance.
2. Karim Benzema, now at Al-Ittihad, joins the ranks of the highest earners with a lucrative deal worth £85.2 million annually.
3. Neymar, split between Al Hilal and PSG, has contracts that mirror each other, with annual salaries of £85.2 million. Notably, Neymar was nominated for the 2021 Ballon d'Or and marked significant career milestones such as scoring his 400th career goal in 2021.
4. Kylian Mbappé, at PSG, has a contract worth £61.3 million per year, highlighting his importance to the club.
5. Lionel Messi, formerly at Barcelona and currently in MLS, earned £60.5 million annually before moving to the United States. Messi, widely considered one of the greatest players ever, is set to return to Barcelona in 2023.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo, during his time at Juventus, earned £48.9 million per year, a historically significant wage in football terms.
7. Neymar, while at PSG, had an annual salary of £48 million, reflecting his high value in European football.
8. Riyad Mahrez, now at Al-Ahli, secured a high-paying contract worth £44.5 million per year, joining the trend of top players moving to Saudi Arabia.
The salaries of these top earners range from approximately £44.5 million up to £170.3 million, with Cristiano Ronaldo commanding the highest salary.
Notable achievements among these players include Neymar’s multiple Ballon d'Or nominations and scoring milestones, Messi’s recognition as one of the greatest players, and Ronaldo’s continuing record earnings across clubs.
Meanwhile, other high-earning players such as Sergio Agüero, Gareth Bale, Paul Pogba, and Wayne Rooney also made the list, with earnings ranging from €21.2 million to €23.6 million in 2017.
Football transfers are also breaking records, with the day approaching when clubs will pay half a billion euros for a player's transfer. Notable transfer records include Neymar's move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017, which set a new autumn transfer record at €222 million, and Gareth Bale's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in 2013, which cost €101 million, breaking the previous transfer record.
These astronomical salaries are earned by the footballers for being indispensable players on the field and participating in all constructive actions of their teams.
- The worldwide recognition and exceptional skills in both sports and finance have propelled Cristiano Ronaldo to become a globally marketable figure, earning £170.3 million per year.
- In the realms of football and finance, Neymar's lucrative contracts at Al Hilal and PSG mirror his dual-club status, totaling annually around £85.2 million.
