Top 5 FIFA players with highest earnings

Barrett earned $7,000 after reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 Championship Gaming Series Season

FIFA is one of the most-played games in the world, but strangely, the number of professional FIFA tournaments played every year is nowhere near its close competitors. Hence, the total earnings of professional FIFA players are not as high as the earnings of other gamers, but even then, $145,000 is not a small amount.

While tournaments have been well distributed across all the versions of FIFA, FIFA 07 tournaments have had the maximum earnings (i.e. $230,812.23). There are two FIFA players on the list of top 100 overall earners and 25 players on the list of the top 500 earners.

Also read: 5 highest earning gamers in the world

Here is a list of the top five FIFA players who have earned bucketloads playing their favourite game.

#5 Michael Barrett

Michael ‘Bazza’ Barrett is ranked 916 in the world in terms of overall earnings. The Englishman could not reach the finals of the 2007 Championship Gaming Series Season (FIFA 07) as he lost in the semi-finals, earning $7,000.00 in the process.

He came back strong the next year though and contested for the trophy, this time in the FIFA 08 edition. Despite tough competition in the form of ‘Stermy’, an Italian player representing San Francisco Optx, Bazza came out victorious to claim a prize money of $50,000.

Barrett played all his tournaments for the English team – Birmingham Salvo and UK World Cyber Games. He was slightly unlucky as he was competing at a time where the English great, Chris Bullard was dominating the FIFA scene, but in spite of all hindrances, Barrett’s accomplishments are enough to ensure that he is considered to be an all-time great.

#4 Andrew Brock

Andrew Brock amassed bucketloads of money playing FIFA 07

Andrew ‘Anomaly’ Brock was a part of the roster of Carolina Core. The franchise, which was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was one of six original franchises which played in Region 1 of the Champion Gaming Series. Prior to that, he used to play as a free agent.

The Canadian has won a total of $57,000 from FIFA tournaments, $1,750 from Call of Duty tournaments and $250 from Counter-Strike tournaments, putting him fourth on the list.

Anomaly stood first in the 2007 version of the Championship Gaming Series for FIFA 07, beating Peekay (USA) who represented Carolina Core. He earned a sum of $50,000 from this tournament alone.

Later, after joining Carolina Core himself, he could only manage to reach the semi-finals of the same tournament to earn a total of $7,000.

#3 Dennis Schellhase

One part of the FIFA Twins

Dennis ‘Styla’ Schellhase and his twin brother Daniel ‘Hero’ Schellhase, better known as the “FIFA Twins”, dominated the professional FIFA scene for almost a decade. The former, who has the third highest earnings (i.e. $73,196.00), won tournaments playing the 2003 version of the game when he was just 20 as well as the 2010 version when he was 27. The German played for teams like A-losers, Team Fujitsu Siemens Computers and finally for SK Gaming.

Together, the FIFA twins emerged as the first non-Korean team to lead the medal minor when they represented the German national team. Dennis has 12 championships under his belt, and has finished second in a tournament only once. He is ranked #740 in the world and #23 in Germany in terms of overall earnings from FIFA.

#2 Daniel Schellhase

Daniel ‘Hero’ Schellhase stands second on this list with overall earnings of $81,933.75

Daniel ‘Hero’ Schellhase stands second on this list with overall earnings of $81,933.75. Daniel started winning FIFA 03 tournaments when he was only 20 and continued winning till 2010.

His success got him involved in numerous campaigns including Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Intel: Notebook Gaming, Adidas: “Beat the World Champion” – Store Tour, Technician Health Insurance, and many others.

Daniel has 14 first-place finishes, four 2nd place finishes, and one 3rd/4th place finish. He started his career with Heinerfest, and then later joined his brother at A-losers. Together they represented Team Fujitsu Siemens Computers, SK Gaming and the German national team.

The FIFA Twins have won nearly all the tournaments they have participated in, making them the best duo of all time.

#1 Ivan Lapanje

Lapanje won the Las Vegas World Challenge Series in 2013

The Swedish FIFA star has won $145,378.56, which puts him at the top of this list. He is ranked #1 in Sweden and is arguably the best FIFA player of all time. Lapanje won the Las Vegas World Challenge Series in 2013, bagging prize money worth $140,000. He had a face-off against Rafael ‘Ralfitita’ Riobo in the final and won 3-1.

For the first time in his career, he participated in the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Finals. He was placed in the group of death, but won his games convincingly, even beating the then world champion, to move to the round of 16. He later lost in the semi-finals to Mohammad ‘Bacha’ Al-Bacha 1-2.

However, he was back in 2017, as he finished on top of the table in FIFA Ultimate Team in the month of October.