Footballer's wages are a common debate - with many feeling that the influx of money in the sport is disrupting a game that was once considered to be a 'working class sport'.
Even in a ten-year period, the amount of money in the game has increased massively and so it's no surprise that wages are so extortionate.
Here is a list from Forbes detailing who the top ten highest paid footballers were in circa 2006 and what they were earning. Compared to the yearly wages of today's world, it makes for interesting reading.
Advert
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are nowhere to be seen.
10. Steven Gerrard
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was in the prime of his career back when this list was published and was reportedly earning £7.7 million each year at the time.
9. John Terry
Advert
Another former England skipper makes the list, with John Terry making the same amount as Gerrard. Terry was in the middle of a healthy endorsement from Umbro at the time, whereas now he has a boots deal with Nike.
8. Fabio Cannavaro
Sticking with the defenders, Fabio Cannavaro had just come off the back of winning the World Cup in 2006 with Italy and also scooped the Ballon d'Or - which then led to him getting his big move to Real Madrid. The Italian was said to be making £7.9 million per year.
Advert
7. Zinedine Zidane
Current Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had retired by the time Forbes' figures were released, with Zizou calling time on his storied and successful career after the World Cup in 2006.
6. Thierry Henry
Fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry was said to be making a healthy £8.6 million a year when the list came about.
Advert
5. Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack was a hugely influential player for Chelsea in his time at the club, evidenced in the fact that he was reportedly being paid £121,000 as a basic salary and was earning £9.1 million a year in total.
4. Wayne Rooney
A younger and more effective Wayne Rooney was said to be making £9.3 million at the time, compared to the £13.5m that he reportedly earns these days. He signed a new Manchester United contract in 2014.
3. Ronaldo
Advert
The Brazilian had been sold by Real Madrid when this list was published and though he had probably just passed his prime, he was still making £12.7m a year - placing him third highest on the list.
2. David Beckham
A global and marketing phenomenon, it's really no surprise to see David Beckham so high up on the list. Becks, who was on the verge of moving to the MLS and joining LA Galaxy at the time, was said to be making £15.8 million. With the volume of projects he is involved in these days, he's probably not doing too bad for himself.
1. Ronaldinho
Topping the list was Ronaldinho, with the Barcelona man raking in a reported £16 million a year in the peak of his powers. He was endorsed by both Nike and Sony.
Flipping forward to the state of football in today's world, at the time of writing, Cristiano Ronaldo is said to make a staggering £18.98 million on a yearly basis
That's a lot of money, so it's only right to end this article with Shane McMahon's theme song.
Enjoy.
Featured Image Credit:
Topics: Football