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Football is a rich sport. Some of the richest athletes in the world like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are footballers.
Big football clubs in Europe are willing to offer huge wages to top players, and social media also plays a key role in increasing these players' net worth. With big brand deals as well as sponsored social media posts, footballers tend to build their empires during their playing careers and expand them when they tend to slow down on the field.
However, coronavirus has affected the sports industry adversely, and there have been ramifications to the earnings of various people across the world.
Despite that, top players continue to earn top dollar from their clubs as well as from their endorsements. We look at the 10 highest-paid football players in the world.
#10 David de Gea - Manchester United | $27 million
One of the best goalkeepers of the modern generation, David de Gea ranks tenth in this list of the 10 highest-paid footballers in the world.
A graduate of the Atletico Madrid youth academy, de Gea moved to Manchester United in 2011 for £19 million. After a slow start to his Red Devils career, the Spain international established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at the club, producing consistently excellent performances.
Arguably the best player for Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, the 30-year old's stock has dropped in recent months after some poor games. With Dean Henderson lurking, de Gea will have to be at his very best to keep the no.1 jersey.
#9 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich | $28 million
The best striker in world football right now and perhaps the best free transfer of all-time, Robert Lewandowski is Bayern Munich's talismanic presence.
An incredible goalscorer during his time with Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski turned heads when he decided to join arch-rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2014. Since then he has won 15 trophies at the club, including the treble last season.
The 32-year old scored 55 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions last season. He is only the second-player to win the treble while being top goalscorer in all three competitions, after Johan Cruyff.
#8 Gareth Bale - Tottenham Hotspur | $29 million
While Gareth Bale's stint at Real Madrid might not have gone according to plan in the latter stages, there is no denying his influence in Los Blancos' successes.
After a stellar season with Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid decided to break the bank and pay a world-record fee of £85 million in 2013. The Wales international would form a dangerous attacking trident with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, as Real Madrid stormed to three consecutive Champions League titles.
The 31-year old did not enjoy the best of relationships with manager Zinedine Zidane, and a result was barely used last season. Bale has now returned to his beloved Tottenham Hotspur on loan, where he has enjoyed a bright start.
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#7 Antoine Griezmann - Barcelona | $33 million
Antoine Griezmann has struggled at Barcelona but is a high-earner at the club and one of the more recognizable faces in football right now.
The France international, who began his career with Real Sociedad, made his name with Atletico Madrid, where he became one of the best attackers in world football. A £108 million move to Barcelona followed in 2019, where so far it has not worked out.
The 29-year old has failed to replicate his Atletico Madrid form, and with the emergence of prodigious youngsters like Ansu Fati and Pedri, has been linked with a move away.
#6 Paul Pogba - Manchester United | $34 million
No player has split opinion in the Premier League in recent years as much as Paul Pogba has.
Since his £89.3 million move to Manchester United in 2016, Pogba has been a divisive figure. A clearly talented player, the France international has often been accused of failing to perform on a consistent level. Heavily linked with a move away from Manchester United for some time now, Pogba could very well be on the move next summer.
The 27-year old has seen his game time limited in recent weeks due to the influence of Bruno Fernandes as well as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring Fred and Scott McTominay in midfield.
#5 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool | $37 million
One of the best players in the world right now, Mohamed Salah's star has been rising ever since his move to Liverpool.
After a move to Chelsea did not pan out, the Egypt international was shipped to Fiorentina and later Roma, on loan. Salah joined Roma permanently in 2016, moving to Liverpool a season later for £37 million. It only took a season for Salah to prove that the fee was a bargain.
The 28-year old has made 165 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, scoring 104 goals. He has dovetailed well with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, playing a crucial role as Liverpool won the Premier League as well as the Champions League.
#4 Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain | $42 million
Already a superstar at the age of 21, Kylian Mbappe is seen as the future, but in the present he is one of the best footballers in the world.
Viewed by many critics as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's throne, Mbappe has firmly established himself as a global superstar. After a breakthrough season with AS Monaco, Mbappe made the news when Paris Saint-Germain splurged £130 million to make him the scond-most expensive footballer in the world.
He has proven to be a shrewd investment, and has made 133 appearances in all competitions, scoring 99 goals. For France, he was one of the stars at the 2018 World Cup, winning the Best Young Player award, and playing a key role as France lifted the trophy.
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#3 Neymar - Paris Saint-Germain | $96 million
Kylian Mbappe's teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar is one of the most recognizable sportspeople in the world right now.
His performances on the field for club and country have been complemented by successful marketing and commercialisation strategies which have propelled Neymar to the very top. His £200 million move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona, which made him the most expensive footballer in the world, has further increased his profile.
The 28-year old remains Brazil's national team most important player, while for Paris Saint-Germain he has established a deadly partnership with Mbappe.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus | $117 million
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to go strong at the age of 35, playing key roles for both Juventus and Portugal national team.
Like Neymar, Ronaldo enjoys a strong social media presence, and is one of the most marketable faces in the world. Having played for some of the biggest clubs in the world in Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, the forward has been successful for both club and country.
Recently he has been linked with a move back to Manchester United, but it remains to be seen whether the move materialises.
#1 Lionel Messi - Barcelona | $126 million
Lionel Messi has made the news in recent months for various reasons, as his relationship with Barcelona continues to be fractured.
Arguably the greatest player to have played the game, Messi is seen as Barcelona's best player, having made 741 appearances in all competitions and scoring 640 goals since his debut in 2004. In the summer, the 33-year old admitted that he would like to leave the club, but it failed to materialise.
The Argentine superstar has not been at his very best this season for the club, and with only one year left in his contract, could leave the club on a free transfer next summer.
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