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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.
On that note, we take a look at ten footballers with the highest net worth.
#10: Eden Hazard - $100 million
Regarded as one of the best footballers in the world, Eden Hazard had a tumultuous first season at Real Madrid. Despite that, his stock continues to remain high.
Having made his name at Lille, the Belgium international moved to Chelsea in 2012 where his performances made him a modern Premier League great. An incredible dribbler blessed with good creativity and an eye for goal, Hazard moved to Real Madrid last summer for a fee of €100 million.
Injuries limited his role in Real Madrid's Liga win, but the 29-year old winger will be keen to portray his full talent next season after being handed the famed number seven jersey at Los Blancos.
#9: Andres Iniesta - $120 million
One of Barcelona's finest academy products, Andres Iniesta is seen as one of the best midfielders of all time.
The 36-year-old made his debut for Barcelona in 2002, going on to represent the club at the senior level for 16 long years. An excellent passer renowned for his technical ability, Iniesta was also a regular for Spain, scoring the goal that earned La Furia Roja their first World Cup title in 2010.
The midfielder left Barcelona in 2018 and moved to Japan to play for Vissel Kobe. He has made 51 appearances for them in all competitions so far, scoring ten goals.
#8: Gareth Bale - $125 million
While Gareth Bale's Real Madrid legacy might have been blighted by his antics over the past year, there remains no doubt that he played a vital part in the club's success over the years.
Real Madrid paid Tottenham Hotspur €100 million for the Wales international in 2013, then a world-record transfer fee. Bale had an instant impact, making consistent appearances during his initial years. The winger would play a pivotal role as Los Blancos won three consecutive Champions League titles.
Over the last one year, however, Bale has been ostracised by manager Zinedine Zidane who has admitted that the 31-year-old is free to leave the club. One of the highest earners in the Real Madrid squad, Bale has so far been stubborn in his stance and his agent has stated that he will fulfil his contract with the club.
Also Read: 5 players Ronald Koeman could sign at Barcelona.
#7: Wayne Rooney - $160 million
One of England's finest footballers, Wayne Rooney enjoyed a fine stint at the top of the game during his prime.
Rooney being a prodigious talent since his Everton days, Manchester United decided to splurge £25.6 million in 2004 on the 18-year-old, which raised many eyebrows. The England international would, however, go on to become the top goalscorer for the Red Devils, scoring 253 goals across all competitions in 559 appearances.
The 34-year-old operated as a forward but slowly became a midfielder as the years passed, with his passing and creativity appreciated. After leaving Manchester United in 2017, he made appearances for Everton and DC United. Rooney currently plays for Derby County in the Championship.
#6: Neymar - $185 million
Another prodigious talent who was destined for the top since his early days in Brazil, Neymar is a well-known face across the world.
He began his European adventure by joining Barcelona from Santos in 2013, forming a fearsome attacking trident with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. After four incredible years at the club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) activated the forward's release clause of €222 million, making him the most expensive transfer ever.
Currently plying his trade in France, the Brazil international has had some injury issues. However, the 28-year-old has played a key role in PSG reaching the Champions League final this season.
#5: Zlatan Ibrahimovich - $190 million
A journeyman striker who has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the more vibrant characters in football.
The Sweden international has played for the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, scoring at an incredibly consistent rate for each club.
Zlatan Ibrahimovich has a tall, looming presence and has impressive aerial ability, to go with his technical skills which are well-renowned.
The 38-year-old currently plays for AC Milan after a stint in the MLS with LA Galaxy. Ibrahimovic has made 808 career appearances so far, scoring an astounding 485 goals.
#4: Lionel Messi - $400 million
Arguably the greatest player to have played the game of football, Lionel Messi is one of the most valuable athletes in the world right now.
A Barcelona academy graduate, the Argentina international has been the club's talisman for some time now. Messi is Barcelona's best passer, creator and goal-scorer. Despite the 2019-20 season being a shambolic one for Barcelona, the diminutive forward was one of their rare positives.
The 33-year-old, who has just one year left in his contract, is said to be frustrated with how the club is being run. As such, he has been linked with a move away, and some of the biggest clubs in world football are keeping an eye on his situation.
Also Read: 10 greatest number 10s of all time.
#3: David Beckham - $450 million
David Beckham has built such a brand around his name that he is one of the most recognisable athletes faces in the world despite having retired from the sport in 2013.
Beckham was a Manchester United youth product, making nearly 400 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club. He would go on to make appearances for clubs like Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, becoming a global superstar in the process.
The England international is currently one of the owners of MLS club Inter Miami which began play in 2020. Beckham is regarded as a cultural icon.
#2: Cristiano Ronaldo - $460 million
Similar to Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo has created a brand for himself which runs independently of his performances on the field.
On the field, Ronaldo is one of the greatest to have played the game of football. The Portuguese superstar is regarded as a great at both Manchester United and Real Madrid and is Los Blancos' all-time top goalscorer with 450 goals across all competitions in just 438 appearances.
The 35-year-old moved to Juventus in 2018 where he has been their best player. Ronaldo made 46 appearances in all competitions for Juventus last season, scoring 37 goals. The former Sporting CP forward ranks amongst the top earners in world football.
#1: Faiq Bolkiah - $20 billion
A midfielder who last played for Leicester City, Faiq Bolkiah is the son of Jefri Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei and nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei.
The 22-year-old is the captain of the Brunei international team and has made six appearances for them so far, scoring one goal. Having begun his footballing career with AFC Newbury, Bolkiah trained in the academy of clubs like Southampton, Arsenal and Chelsea before joining the Foxes in 2016.
He left Leicester City in 2020 without making an appearance for the club. Bolkiah was eligible to represent both Brunei and the United States of America but decided to play for the former.
Also Read: 7 football superstars who retired in 2020.
