Football. It’s the quintessential British sport (Golf? Cricket? Never heard of them). But what makes football so great? Why, it’s the players, of course, with many commanding truly impressive salaries from the clubs anxious to keep them. But who are the most well-paid footballers? Here’s a list of ten heavy-hitters.
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Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United Football Club)
Monthly salary: $2.6 million
60 goals over four seasons is a good record for anyone, but for a left-winger like Sanchez it’s even more admirable. It’s no wonder United were so keen to pay top dollar for him.
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Wayne Rooney (Everton)
Monthly salary: $2.2 millionAs the all-time top scorer for England, Rooney’s healthy earnings won’t be that surprising to anyone who knows his name. Various endorsements from different brands help to further boost his net worth, making him one of the most valuable players in the world.
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Gareth Bale (Real Madrid C.F.)
Monthly salary: $2.8 million
Bale has rarely put a foot wrong since being signed to Spurs at the age of 18. Recognised around the world for his fine footwork, it’s unsurprising that Real Madrid are keen to keep him out of the clutches of other clubs.
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Antoine Griezmann (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Monthly salary: $3.7 million
Griezmann’s record has been strong and consistent since being signed to Atletico. Frequent interest from other European clubs is presumably the reason they’re are so willing to hike up his salary.
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Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.)
Monthly salary: $3.7 millionHaving gained a great reputation at Barcelona, it didn’t come as a great shock when PSG made an offer for Neymar in 2017. Despite persistent rumours of him leaving, the astronomical salary PSG are paying to keep him around seems to have put paid to that for now.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus FC)
Monthly salary: $5.3 millionNo surprise to anyone. Ronaldo’s record has been one of consistent highs, first at Sporting Lisbon, then Manchester United, then Real Madrid. With a truly outstanding goalscoring ability, numerous clubs would have been willing to pay through the nose to have him. He made the switch to Juventus in 2018, citing dissatisfaction with his former club.
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Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona)
Monthly salary: $3.7 million
Suarez made a name for himself at Liverpool, but it was Barcelona who poached him, paying a huge £75m transfer fee. Their investment was a sound one; his performance has remained strong.
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Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.)
Monthly salary: $2 million
Mbappe’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, with PSG snatching him up in early 2017 after a great run at Monaco where he scored 15 goals in 19 games. He’s since made 28 appearances for the team.
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Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Monthly salary: $2.1 million
Known in Italy as “the Octopus” because of his lithe and powerful legs, Pogba has a five-year contract with United that sees him paid a cool $25 million every year. Endorsements with brands like Adidas have only served to further pad his pay check and boost his profile.
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Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Monthly salary: $9.5 millionWith a monthly salary of over €9 million, Lionel Messi comfortably tops the list. Boasting a goal-scoring ability that’s simply on another level to any other player, it’s no surprise that Messi commands a salary that’s truly staggering. Though the age-old question – Ronaldo or Messi – rages on, the money speaks for itself.
