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Footballers are among the highest-paid athletes in the world but for some of them, their salaries are not an accurate reflection of their contributions.
Football is the most popular sport in the world and the European top-flights are followed all across the world. That level of marketability opens up numerous business opportunities and brings in a lot of money into all aspects of the sport.
Some of the best footballers in the world earn close to tens of millions of euros in annual wages. That's why the most high-profile players end up playing for clubs that have substantial financial clout.
Even in those teams, however, there would be some individuals who are paid way less than what they deserve. Some world-class players in Europe earn peanuts when compared to other players who don't even contribute that much in terms of productivity to their teams.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five most underrated footballers in the world right now.
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - £60,000 per week
You'd think that winning the UEFA Champions League and Premier League titles in back-to-back seasons would be enough to prove that a player is one of the best in the business. And in normal circumstances, the best get paid better than the rest. Those are the rules of the world we live in.
But that's not true of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Granted, he has not had the best of seasons this term but he is still one of the best attacking full-backs in the world.
According to multiple sources, Trent Alexander-Arnold earns just £60,000 per week and that's quite criminally low when you learn that players who play for mid-table sides in the Premier League usually earn that much.
#4 Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) - £50,000 per week
Inter Milan attacker Lautaro Martinez has struck up an incredible partnership with Romelu Lukaku. The striking duo's goals have been critical to Inter Milan's title-charge this term. Martinez has scored 15 goals and provided five assists for Nerazzuri in Serie A.
Romelu Lukaku, on the other hand, has scored 21 goals and provided nine assists. There is not much disparity in those numbers, but Lautaro Martinez earns considerably less than the Belgian. While Lukaku pockets £170,000 per week, Martinez gets £50,000. That's way too low for one of the best young strikers in Europe.
#3 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - £10,000 per week
Arsenal have been so bereft of creativity at the centre of the pitch that they've had to rely on teenage sensation Bukayo Saka, who is also one of their least experienced players.
The 19-year-old has turned in some highly impressive performances for Arsenal and the Gunners are a much weaker side whenever Bukayo Saka is unavailable. He has scored six goals and provided five assists across all competitions this season.
The Englishman earns a meagre £10,000 per week. Academy graduates are usually paid considerably less as it takes them a while to level up from their first professional contract.
#2 Scott McTominay (Manchester United) - £10,000 per week
Scott McTominay has gone from strength to strength under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He is blossoming into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League right now and has added goals to his kitty as well this season.
The Scottish international has scored seven goals from a central midfield position this season and most of those have been very decisive ones. However, McTominay is one of the most underpaid players in the world which is quite strange for a team like Manchester United who are famous for overpaying players.
Scott McTominay earns a meagre £20,000 per week at Manchester United and should see a bumper pay rise when the Red Devils eventually decide to give him a new deal.
#1 Phil Foden (Manchester City) - £12,000 per week
Manchester City youngster Phil Foden is one of the most promising young players to have made an impact this season. Foden has been excellent for Pep Guardiola's side this season and has scored 12 goals and provided seven assists for them across all competitions.
However, Foden is arguably the most underpaid footballer in the world. He pockets a meagre £12,000 per week. He is most certainly due a new contract which should see him earn a lot more money. But as things stand now, his salary does not come anywhere close to reflecting his importance or contributions on the pitch.
Manchester City pay close to £50,000 per week to their third-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen. They can clearly pay players a lot of money. Foden also earns so less because he is an academy graduate and is yet to sign a new contract.
Figures courtesy: Spotrac, Silly Season,
