1*.Messi
Salary (bonuses included): $92M
Endorsement deals: $35M
Sponsors: Gatorade, Pepsi, Nike, Lays, MasterCard, Ooredoo, Jacobs & co
Nationality: Argentine
Club: Barcelona
A five-time FIFA Player of the Year winner, six-time European Golden Shoe, Messi has won the Laliga 10 times and several tournaments and accolades. An amazing footballer, Messi has not won any tournament at the national level, a fact which has been emphasized as one of the major shortcomings of his career. He was handed a three-month suspension and $50,000 fine by South American football governing body, CONMEBOL in 2019 after he accused the body of corruption. He also was handed $2.25 million fine for tax evasion.
2.Ronaldo
Salary (bonuses included): $65M
Endorsement deals: $44M
Sponsors: Electronic Arts, Nike, Alice, Herbalife, CR7 hotel, Fragrance, footwear, clothing line
Nationality: Portugal
Club: Juventus
In the race of the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) in football, Ronaldo is a principal contestant. A five-time FIFA Player of the Year, and the first player to win the English premier league, the Laliga and Serie A and the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo is known for his extreme determination, hard work and burning drive for success. He is one of the most influential footballers, especially on social media. He has had his own fair challenge with the law, he paid a $24 million fine for tax evasion and was charged for rape in the USA, an allegation Ronaldo denies.
3.Neymar
Salary (bonuses included): $75M
Endorsement deals: $30M
Sponsors: MasterCard, Milan, Nike, Red Bull, Beats by Dre, EA Sports, Gillette
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
In 2017, Neymar made headlines after he transferred to PSG at a record transfer fee of $263 Million, which made him the most expensive player in the world. He has since then proved his worth for his side and has shown the total amount of $600 million which would be paid to him both in salary and bonuses, is a good investment. He has however been involved in various legal troubles which include a tax evasion charge, which ended with him paying a fine of $1.2 million. In 2019, he was accused of raping a woman, the charges were dropped as a result of lack of evidence. He also lost his captaincy following an altercation with a fan.
4.Paul Pogba
Salary (bonus included): $29M
Endorsement deals: $4M
Sponsors: Adidas
Nationality: French
Club: Manchester United
Pogba proved to be a key player in France 2018 World Cup win. His 2016 move to Manchester United from the Italian side, Juventus at a transfer record of $120 million, increased his earnings. Another significant factor responsible for Pogba’s high earnings is his five-year deal with Manchester United which pays $20 million monthly. Though Pogba is an outstanding player, he struggled under the headship of renowned coach Jose Mourinho, a factor that has been rumoured to have a contribution to the later’s departure from the club.
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