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3. Neymar Jr
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Contract length: 5-year-deal worth $70 million per season (2017-2022)
Endorsements: $35 million
Salary & Bonus: $70 million
Total: $109 million
Notable sponsors: Gillette, McDonald's, Beats by Dre, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. (AAPL), and Nike
Neymar's sensational move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 sent shockwaves across Europe and in moving to the French capital, the mercurial Brazilian became the most expensive player in the history of the game, as the Parisian club triggered his £222 million release clause.
The 27-year-old is a key player for club and country and his base salary at club level is second only to Lionel Messi, who is the highest-paid player in world football currently. Aside from being a Nike athlete, the Brazilian international is also sponsored by the likes of Gilette and McDonald's, and is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to Instagram followers.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Juventus
Contract length: 4-year-deal worth $70 million per season (2018-2022)
Endorsements: $45 million
Salary & Bonus: $64 million
Total: $109 million
Notable sponsors: Nike, Altice, DAZN, MTG, Herbalife
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a move to Juventus in the summer of 2019, after spearheading to Real Madrid to a hattrick of Champions League titles and overseeing the most successful era in the club's decorated history. Since moving to Italy, the Portuguese international has carried on with his goalscoring exploits and played a key role in the Biaconeri's Scudetto winning campaign and topped off a stellar season by winning the UEFA Nations League.
The likes of Electronic Arts and Nike are amongst his noteworthy sponsors and the 34-year-old is also the most followed athlete on Instagram, with more than 190 million followers to his name. Cristiano is also well set to become the second player in the history of the game to amass 100 international goals, as he moved to within one goal of a century of goals for Portugal with a goal against Luxembourg in the European Qualifiers.
1. Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Club: Barcelona
Contract length: 4-year-deal worth $80 million per season (2017-2021)
Endorsements: $47 million
Salary & Bonus: $80 million
Total: $127 million
Notable sponsors: Adidas, Pepsi, Lays, Gatorade, Jacobs & Co, Mastercard, Ooredoo
Widely regarded as the greatest player to ever grace the game, Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is unsurprisingly the highest-paid player in world football currently. The diminutive Argentinian looks set to spend the entirety of his career with the Catalan giants and earns an eye-watering sum of $127 million a year including endorsements and bonuses.
Aside from bagging a lifelong contract with Adidas, the 31-year-old is also sponsored by the likes of Pepsi, Lays and Gatorade amongst other brands and is understandably one of the most marketable athletes of all time, having made a name for himself as one of the most gifted footballers of all time.
