10 highest-paid football players in Europe right now

Footballers are some of the highest-paid players in the world of sports. The amount of money involved in the sport is astronomical, with some players even taking home annual wages more than the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of small countries.

Cash-rich leagues like the Premier League like to have the best players in the world and would go to any extent to acquire their services. However, elite clubs like Real Madrid, PSG and Barcelona do not shy away from splashing the cash either.

This list ranks players based on their annual wages as paid by their clubs and excludes amounts amassed through endorsements or businesses held.

Without further ado, we take a look at the 10 highest paid football players in Europe.

Also Read: Ranking the Ballon d'Or winners of the decade (2010-2019)

#10 Robert Lewandowski- €20 million

Robert Lewandowski is one of the most lethal strikers in the world of football right now. The Polish international has been Bayern Munich's talisman for quite a while and is deservedly the highest earner in the squad. The 31-year-old pockets €1.7 million per month which takes his tally to an amount in excess of €20 million annually.

The 31-year-old is enjoying a stellar individual season and has 25 goals and 3 assists to his name in the 23 appearances in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, he is also tearing teams apart in the UEFA Champions League with 11 goals and 2 assists in just 6 games this season.

Lewandowski is in contention for the Golden Boot this term and faces stiff competition from Ciro Immobile and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he is currently sidelined with an injury to the shin that is expected to keep him out for a month.

#9 David de Gea- €21.6 million

David de Gea is a fan favourite at Old Trafford and it comes as no surprise that he is the highest-paid player at Manchester United. The Spaniard rakes in €1.8 million each month which tallies to €21.6 million annually.

De Gea signed a new contract with the Manchester giants last year in a deal that will keep him at the club till June 2023. The deal saw him become the highest earner in the Premier League ahead of the likes of Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Kevin de Bruyne, Marcus Rashford, Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling.

Although the Spaniard has been one of the best players for the Red Devils in recent years, he is currently enduring an abysmal season. He only has 7 clean sheets in the Premier League and his blunders have cost his side several points. The 29-year-old will be hoping to redeem himself in the closing stages of the season.

Also Read: David Alaba claims Robert Lewandowski is on par with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

#8 Kylian Mbappe- €20 million

Pundits call Kylian Mbappe a player for the future but he is already the present. The Frenchman is one of the best players in the world right now. At just 21 years of age, he has conquered the French top-flight and is already a World Cup winner.

Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 on loan from AS Monaco. In 2018, PSG sealed the move permanently after they coughed up €180 million to secure his services. However, that's not all as the Parisians shell out close to €20 million in wages yearly for their starlet which means the Frenchman takes home €1.9 million gross per month.

With a host of elite clubs chasing Mbappe for his signature, the sum is only going to rise going forward. The PSG sensation has been touted as the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo and is expected to make a big switch to Real Madrid in the foreseeable future.

#7 Eden Hazard- €30 million

Eden Hazard sealed his dream move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019. In an overhaul at the Bernabeu, Zinedine Zidane decided to bring the Belgian to the Spanish capital for €100 million from Chelsea.

Becoming Real's most expensive signing in recent times, Hazard got himself a lucrative contract which sees him earning €2.5 million gross per month. That takes the amount to €30 million yearly. The Belgian also took the iconic No. 7 which was once worn by Ronaldo.

After guiding the Blues to Europa League victory, Hazard was ready to embark on a new journey with his dream club. However, the winger is currently struggling with injuries and has already missed more games for Los Blancos than he ever did for Chelsea in his seven-year tenure.

#6 Gareth Bale- €30 million

Gareth Bale might not be the same player he once was but that has had no impact on his stature and wages. The Welshman is paid handsomely and is currently the highest-paid player at Real Madrid.

Bale commands €2.5 million gross per month which rounds up to €30 million yearly. From being a fan favourite at the Bernabeu to warming the bench, the former Tottenham Hotspur star has come a long way. The 30-year-old has been abysmal for Los Blancos this season with just 2 goals and 2 assists in 14 appearances in La Liga.

Each summer, the Welshman is linked with a move away from the Spanish giants but ends up staying put. No team can match Bale's wages and that has become a major blockade in the negotiations. Meanwhile, Bale seems to be content with the secondary role in the squad as long as he receives his paychecks.

#5 Luis Suarez- €35 million

Luis Suarez is one of the finest forwards of this generation and has been quite instrumental in FC Barcelona's recent successes over the years. He commands a fee close to €35 million in wages for his services.

While the 33-year-old was called out quite often for his inconsistent displays, he amassed 11 goals and 7 assists in the 17 appearances he made for Barca in La Liga this season.

Closing in on his twilight years, the Uruguayan intends to stay at the Camp Nou for the foreseeable future. He has even revealed that a clause in his contract will see the Spanish giants renew his contract next season if he participates in more than 60 percent of Barca's games.

Although Suarez is sidelined with a knee injury and his season is as good as over, he will be hoping to traumatise the opposition defenders once he hits the ground again.

#4 Antoine Griezmann- €35 million

Antoine Griezmann sealed a move away from Atletico Madrid to join FC Barcelona in the summer of 2019. In what was considered one of the most controversial transfers in recent times, the Frenchman joined the Blaugrana a year after infamously turning them down in the summer of 2018.

The 28-year-old is one of the best players in the world and this is the sole reason the Catalans splashed a sum of €120 million for his services. The former Atletico Madrid man pockets just under €3 million gross per month which tallies to €35 million in wages annually.

Barcelona are heavily reliant on him after Luis Suarez was ruled out for the rest of the season following his knee injury. In his debut season, Griezmann already has 8 goals and 4 assists to his name in 24 appearances for the club and will be hoping to add to his tally before the season comes to a close.

#3 Neymar Jr- €36.8 million

Neymar Jr made a switch from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a reported fee of €222 million. In the process, the Brazilian became one of the highest-paid players in the world. The 28-year-old takes home an amount in excess of €3 million gross per month which totals €36.8 million in wages annually.

Neymar joined the French side in a bid to become the best player in the world but his time in Paris has been quite controversial, to say the least. Since moving to Ligue 1, the forward has been plagued with injuries, resulting in him missing a major chunk of games for PSG. Moreover, feuds with teammate Edinson Cavani, showboating and foul mouthing players and refs have helped his name become synonymous with controversy in the French top-flight.

Following all the troubles, the former Barcelona man is seeking a move back to the Camp Nou and came close last summer. He will be looking to make a switch again in the coming summer but he would like to win a Champions League with PSG before that.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo- €54 million

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the game of football and rightfully finds his place on this list despite turning 35 recently. The Portuguese left Real Madrid after nine long years and joined Juventus in 2018. It is understood that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner took a pay cut to join the Italians but despite that, he still manages to pocket €4.5 million gross per month in wages which takes his annual tally to €54 million.

The former Real Madrid man is in scintillating form for the Bianconeri despite a sluggish start to the season. He is currently on an eleven-game scoring streak in Serie A and has 21 goals to his name in 21 league appearances so far.

Ronaldo will be looking to carry over his league form to the Champions League where his side needs to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Lyon in the second leg to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.

#1 Lionel Messi- €100 million

Lionel Messi is currently the highest-paid player in the world of football. The Argentine pockets €8.3 million gross per month in wages from FC Barcelona which takes his yearly tally to €100 million.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is in a league of his own. With the Blaugrana struggling to find consistency this season, the captain has been leading the charge upfront. Despite hitting rough patches this term, the 32-year-old has been the Catalan club's best player by a mile. Messi already has 18 goals and 12 assists to his name in just 20 appearances in La Liga.

The 32-year-old has been bearing the entire weight of Barcelona's attack for a while now and with Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez out for the rest of the season, the responsibility once again lies with him.

With Barca preparing another contract for their talisman, the figures may skyrocket even further.

Also Read: 10 best forwards of the decade

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh