'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Football is a lucrative business. Big clubs these days prefer to target players who have a wide social media reach; as much as it is about football, it is also about business.
Big names like Real Madrid and Manchester United have often been accused of chasing superstars to appease fans and increase their popularity. While clubs are getting smarter these days, players are also paid mammoth sums of money by the management, as they understand their importance.
We look at the 10 highest paid footballers in the world.
#10 MESUT OZIL, ARSENAL- €1.64 million per month
One of the finest playmakers in the world during his prime, Mesut Ozil's decline at Arsenal has been disappointing to see.
Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 for a then club-record fee of €50 million. The German international was vital during Arsene Wenger's reign at the club, with his exceptional creative ability and vision seeing him rake in 19 assists in the league during the 2015-16 season.
However, Ozil began to be underused under Unai Emery, and the trend has continued under new manager Mikel Arteta. The 31-year old played 18 games in the Premier League, scoring one goal and providing two assists. Given his mercurial wages, it is hard to see any team going for the former Werder Bremen man in the summer.
#9 DAVID de GEA, MANCHESTER UNITED- €1.76 million per month
Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, David de Gea has arguably been Manchester United's best player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
While the Spain international may have committed a few errors in the season gone by, he still remains the no.1 for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. De Gea joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid for €25 million in 2011, and after a slow start became the undisputed first-choice shot-stopper for the club.
The 29-year old was everpresent for Manchester United in the Premier League, playing all 38 games. He was not at his very best, and will be under scrutiny with Dean Henderson providing tough competition for the goalkeeping spot.
#8 KYLIAN MBAPPE, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN- €1.9 million per month
One of the best players in the world right now, Kylian Mbappe's rise to the top has been impressive.
The 21-year old joined Paris Saint-Germain after a spectacular breakthrough season at AS Monaco, costing the Parisiens €180 million to make his loan deal permanent. Mbappe has become a talisman for both club as well as for country, with the France international playing a key role in the country's World Cup triumph in 2018.
His pace, dribbling, eye for goal and match intelligence have all been appreciated. Mbappe made 20 appearances in the league for his club, scoring 18 goals and providing five assists last season.
Also Read: 10 best goalkeepers this season (2019/20)
#7 EDEN HAZARD, REAL MADRID- €2.5 million per month
Eden Hazard's first season at Real Madrid has not gone to plan, and there is definitely a lot more to come from the winger.
Injuries have played a major role in Hazard's limited contributions for Los Blancos this season. The Belgium international, who joined the club last summer from Chelsea for €100 million, is yet to dazzle the Santiago Bernabeu faithful with his incredible dribbling and flair, assets which made him a favourite at Chelsea.
The 29-year old made just 16 appearances as Real Madrid won the league, scoring one goal and providing three assists. The former Lille man will have his job cut out for next season.
#6 GARETH BALE, REAL MADRID- €2.5 million per month
If Real Madrid could, they would certainly like to get rid of Gareth Bale.
The Wales international was a crucial component of the squad during his early seasons at the club, but a broken relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane has meant that he is barely playing these days. Having cost the club €100 million from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, Bale has won everything that there is to win at the club.
His agent has stated that the 31-year old will finish his career with the league champions, with still two years left in his contract. The former Southampton player played 16 games in the league, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
#5 LUIS SUAREZ, BARCELONA- €2.9 million per month
Arguably one of the best strikers of the modern generation, Luis Suarez has been a faithful servant for Barcelona.
Suarez might not be the player he once was, but he still continues to lead the line for his club. The Uruguay international joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014 for €82 million, and the striker immediately became a vital cog in the Barcelona line-up.
While the club might be looking at Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez to eventually replace him, the 33-year old still remains a good striker. Expect him to start next season even if Martinez arrives.
#4 ANTOINE GRIEZMANN, BARCELONA- €2.9 million per month
While there is no denying that Antoine Griezmann is a talented footballer, his first season at Barcelona has not gone well.
There were eyebrows raised when Barcelona paid Atletico Madrid €120 million for the forward, and Griezmann has failed to replicate his Atletico Madrid form during his first season with the Catalans. There have been rumours that the France international might be sold, with the player linked to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain recently.
The 29-year old played 35 La Liga games last season, scoring nine goals and providing four assists. The World Cup winner was often used off the bench during the latter part of the season by manager Quique Setien.
Also Read: Reports: Manchester United targeting Villarreal's Pau Torres to bolster defence
#3 NEYMAR, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN- €3 million per month
A superstar in the footballing world, it is no surprise that Neymar ranks high in this list.
The forward is regarded as one of the best players in the world and remains an extremely marketable name. The Brazil international joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 for a world-record fee of €222 million, and while his PSG stint might have had its ups and downs, he still remains one of the most important players at the club.
The 28-year old played 15 games in Ligue 1 last season, scoring 13 goals and providing six assists. The former Santos forward has been linked with a move back to Barcelona for some time now.
#2 CRISTIANO RONALDO, JUVENTUS- €4.5 million per month
One of the greatest players to have played the game, Cristiano Ronaldo comes second in this list.
The former Manchester United star joined Juventus from Real Madrid in 2018 for €100 million, and immediately assumed the role of talisman for the club. Ronaldo's arrival has increased Juventus' popularity in social media circles; such is his influence.
The Portugal international made 33 appearances in Serie A, scoring 31 goals and providing five assists as Juventus won the league once more. Ronaldo, at the age of 35, continues to defy expectations.
#1 LIONEL MESSI, BARCELONA- €8.3 million per month
Arguably the greatest player to have graced a football field, Lionel Messi's legend grows on a daily basis.
The Barcelona academy graduate is comfortably his club's best player; the best creator, the best passer as well the best goalscorer. Barcelona are not in a good state these days, but Messi continues to perform at the highest level possible. "Messidependencia" is well and truly in full flow.
The Argentina international played 33 games in La Liga last season, scoring 25 goals and providing 21 assists. With just a year left in his contract, there have been suggestions that the 33-year old might leave the club out of sheer frustration.
Also Read: 10 best forwards in the Premier League this season
