Football is played almost all around the world from Asia, Europe, to Africa, and America. That is why football players are also some of the highest-paid and most influential athletes. Club owners are willing to pay millions of dollars to get famous footballers to play for their team. That is why football players can make a lot of money annually.
Most football-playing nations have their own local league. For instance, England has the English Premier League while Laliga happens in Spain. You can catch up with all of them if you have a reliable sports TV plan like Spectrum TV packages. Even if you don’t watch the game, you are likely to recognize players like Messi and Ronaldo. This article will list the richest players currently in the game right now
#1: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is one of the most popular and decorated players in modern football. He has won the most individual titles in the world including 7 Ballon d’Or awards. The Argentinian played for FC Barcelona for almost all his professional career. But some financial difficulties at the club meant that he couldn’t stay on. His departure from Barcelona last year might have been heart-breaking but it landed him a lucrative deal with French club PSG.
The player has massive investments in real estate, brand endorsement deals, and a salary of almost $30 million annually. Messi’s net worth is $600 million and he is the richest football player in the world right now.
#2: Cristiano Ronaldo
The Manchester United star boy came directly into the limelight under the amazing leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson. After winning the Champions League with United, he went on to break global records with the Spanish bigwig club Real Madrid. He then went on to play for Juventus and had a much-awaited homecoming back to the Theater of Dreams last year.
Ronaldo is a Portuguese player and wears the number 7 jersey and people refer to him as CR7. He owns a restaurant, a perfume line, and a men’s undergarment brand with the same name as well. His record-breaking deals, a massive wage, and the CR7 brands make his net worth more than $500 million. He also has brand endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, Apple, and some aviation companies.
#3: Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr’s net worth is approximately $200 million and he is the poster boy for the Brazilian football team. His transfer from FC Barcelona to PSG is the most expensive football deal to date and Barcelona received $222 million for his transfer. The 29-year-old winger has investments in real estate and boasts a reasonable sum from his annual salaries and bonuses as well. He also has endorsement deals with some major clothing and fashion brands, including Puma, and Nike’s Jordans.
#4: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan is one of the most iconic and dynamic players in the football world. The Swedish player currently has an agreement with AC Milan. But he has also played for other big clubs like Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, and PSG. He might have played around here and there but he is still loved by most football fans. Zlatan’s personality and attitude set him apart from the rest and his net worth is $195 million, making him one of the richest players in the world.
#5: Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale plays for Real Madrid and the Wales national team. His net worth is $150 million. He is one of the most devastating players in the final third. His record with Real Madrid might have taken a turn for the worse, however. The player never really got around to learning the Spanish language and the communication gap with the team was a demotivating factor for him. However, he is still popular and is one of the richest players in the world with many records to his name. He has investments and endorsement deals with many brands such as EA Sports, Konami, Foot Locker, and Lucozade.
#6: Paul Pogba
Pogba is one of the best midfielders in the world and he plays for Manchester United and the French national team. He has the World Cup with France and is considered to be a key determinant in the team’s success. His transfer fee to Manchester United broke all records of the time. His net worth is $125 million and he has investments in real estate as well. Pogba has one of the biggest endorsement deals with Adidas and some other sports merchandise brands as well.
#7: Andres Iniesta
Iniesta is a magician with the ball and is one of the world’s top playmakers. He spent most of his career wearing the number 8 jersey for FC Barcelona and plays as a midfielder. But he left in 2018 making fans teary-eyed at his departure. Iniesta now plays for Vissel Kobe but posts about his loyal attachment with Barcelona often. He is a major shareholder of Albacete FC and also owns Bodega Andres Iniesta. His net worth surpasses $120 million due to his annual salary and brand endorsement deals with Nike and Nissan.
