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The Top 10 Highest Paid Players In The World

The Top 10 Highest Paid Players In The World

You'd expect Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to be in the top three but one name is a surprise addition to the top 10.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two highest paid footballers in the world and the pair are the only two to earn more than €100 million-a-year.

The two rivals have dominated football for over a decade, collecting 11 Ballon d'Ors between them, including 10 in a row, in an unprecedented era when two of the greatest ever have played at the same time, often against each other.

Messi earns €131 million-a-year, actually making him the top earning star in any sport last year, whilst Ronaldo, second on the all sport list too, earned €118 million. Perhaps most surprisingly on the list, via Tribuna, is Andres Iniesta.

1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona - €131 million-a-year

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus - €118 million

3. Neymar, PSG - €95 million

4. Gareth Bale, Real Madrid - €38 million

=. Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona - €38 million

=. Eden Hazard, Real Madrid - €38 million

Hazard hasn't done enough to justify his wages at the Bernabeu yet. Image: PA Images
Hazard hasn't done enough to justify his wages at the Bernabeu yet. Image: PA Images

7. Andres Iniesta, Vissel Kobe - €34 million

8. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City - €33 million

9. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich - €29 million

10. Kylian Mbappe, PSG - €27 million

Mbappe's wages are only likely to sky rocket in the coming years. Image: PA Images
Mbappe's wages are only likely to sky rocket in the coming years. Image: PA Images

It wouldn't have been much of a surprise to see Iniesta's name on the list when he was still a Barcelona player, the Spaniard twice finished in the Ballon d'Or top three, once in second behind just Messi, and was an integral part to the Catalan giants all conquering sides.

However he left La Liga in 2018 and moved to Japan to join Vissel Kobe and, unlike the Chinese Super League, the J-League doesn't have a big reputation for paying big wages.

Also surprisingly on the list there is only one Premier League player, in the form of Raheem Sterling, with some reporting that both David de Gea and Kevin de Bruyne earn more than the England forward.

Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have also been reported to be paid big wages, although the latter is on loan at Inter this season.

Which player do you think is paid too highly?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski, World Football, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Andres Iniesta, gareth bale, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raheem Sterling