#8 Kaka – $105 million
The last person other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or, Kaka was once the costliest transfer on the planet when he moved to Real Madrid from AC Milan. Kaka was one of the most loved footballers in the world and he is still the third most followed footballer on social media.
The Brazilian superstar was best known for his time at AC Milan where he cemented his place as one of the greatest players of this generation. Kaka has played for some of the best clubs in the world and earned a high salary at the likes of AC Milan and Real Madrid.
He also made a highly lucrative move to MLS side Orlando City. By signing for Orlando City, Kaká became the highest-paid player in MLS history, with a base salary of US$6.6 million per year, and with a guaranteed compensation of $7.2 million per year.
He has also been part of several high profile commercial endorsements such as Adidas which has seen him become one of the richest footballers in the world.
