Football is recognized as the most popular sport in the world with a multi-million audience and fans watching and supporting their favorites. It is played in over two hundred countries in the world, and we can definitely say that it is the world’s favorite sport. However, it is more than just a passion, but also money. The highest paid soccer player earns so much that soccer can be considered one of the highest paid professions in the world. Their income is several times higher than the salary of such prestigious professions like programmers, data analysts, actors, and others. Given its popularity, there is no doubt that many players were able to get a million dollars contracts with sports associations and well-known clubs. So, here is the top 10 most paid footballers.
10 Gareth Bale, overall revenue $27.1 million
Gareth Bale is the national team of Wales player, who has achieved considerable success playing for the Spanish club Real Madrid. In October 2016, Bale extended his contract with Real Madrid until the end of June 2022. The earnings of the player increased to $33 million annually what places him among the best paid football players 2019. However, his future as forward with 11 shirt number at Real Madrid is surrounded by numerous rumors.
In March 2018, Bale became the top scorer in the history of Wales. The forward won this title thanks to a hat-trick he performed during a match with the Chinese team at the China Cup. According to the Daily Mail, if Gareth participated in the tournament, the Chinese side was ready to pay £1 million (€1.2 million) to the opponent’s side. Otherwise, the amount decreased by £100 thousand. Nevertheless, the 2019-2020 season in La Liga still isn’t the very best in the forward’s history. The player spent 12 matches scoring 2 and assisting 2 goals.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- La Liga: 12 matches, 2 goals, 2 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 2 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists.
- International Champions Cup: 2 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists.
9 Antoine Griezmann, overall revenue: $27.7 million
Antoine Griezmann is a French footballer, attacking midfielder of Barcelona and the French team. The young scorer quickly broke into the world of football and in two years made way from a little-known French youth to a soccer star with million fans. Fans and sports analytics are increasingly comparing Antoine with two world football legends, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, expecting player’s results that will leave behind today’s stars
In May 2019, Griezmann left the Atlético Madrid. He played in 260 matches and scored 133 goals for five years spent in the club. Also, Griezmann scored or assisted 8 of 14 goals for the French national team helping his team to win the World Cup. Playing for the national team at the European Championships in 2016, Griezmann became the best player and scorer of the tournament. According to the results, he came in 2nd place after Michel Platini. One of the highest paid footballers 2019 demonstrated an excellent game throughout the 2018 World Cup, and in the crucial game, in addition to assists, scored a goal against the Croats.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Supercopa de España: 1 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 6 matches, 1 goals, 0 assists.
- La Liga: 18 matches, 7 goals, 4 assists.
8 Mesut Ozil, overall revenue: $30.2 million
After leaving the German national team in 2018, the 31-year-old footballer is one of the most criticized players in the world in recent seasons. In general, Mesut Ozil is a rather restrained person, but conflicts on the field with his participation still happened several times. But the downturn in the Ozil’s fortune did not affect his salary.
At the beginning of 2018, Ozil extended his contract with Arsenal until 2021, and his annual salary will be increased to approximately $24 million making him the highest paid soccer player 2019. In 2019-2020 Premier League season an attacking midfielder not yet fully justifies his nickname Mr. Assist having only 1 assist in 11 matches.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Premier League: 11 matches, 0 goals, 1 assist.
- Europe League: 1 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists.
- Football League Cup: 2 matches, 0 goals, 1 assist.
7 Kylian Mbappe, overall revenue: $30.4 million
Kylian’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain signed until 2022 brings him over $20 million annual salary putting him in the list of the highest paid soccer players 2019. The forward with shirt number 7 is deservedly one of the team leaders. By his age, a young football player has already become one of the best players on the planet and one of the most popular in the media space.
Playing for the French national team superfast Mbappe, who scored three goals in the World Cup 2018, was recognized as the best young player. Even the light injury he got a few days before the beginning of WC2018 didn’t prevent him from excellent playing. Mbappe scored the only goal against Peru, providing his team with early access to the playoffs of the championship.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Cope de la Ligue: 2 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 5 matches, 5 goals, 0 assists.
- Ligue 1: 12 matches, 11 goals, 4 assists.
6 Alexis Sanchez, overall revenue: $30.7 million
In 2011, Sanchez signed a contract with the legendary Barcelona, becoming the first native of Chile to join the team. For the South American country football, the transfer was the most expensive in those days. Barca paid €26 million for Alexis and an additional €11 million for bonuses. In total, a player appeared 88 times in the Premier League, regularly scoring goals. According to statistics, Sanchez scored 38 goals in the league over the three seasons spent.
In early 2018, the most paid footballer 2019 changed Arsenal for Manchester and has a monthly salary of over $800,000, also receiving an additional annual bonus of $1 million until the end of 2022. Perhaps the difficulties of adaptation affected the poor performance of the forward at the beginning of the 2018 season for Manchester United. In the summer, Alexis Sanchez moved from Manchester to Inter on an annual lease. The return to Italy was clearly to the liking of the Chilean.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Serie A: 3 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 1 match, 0 goals, 0 assists.
5 Andres Iniesta, overall revenue $32.6 million
35-year-old midfielder of Japanese Vissel Kobe after leaving Barcelona in 2018 is one of the highest paid players in the world 2019. In 2001, Iniesta joined the youth national team and won the European Cup for players younger 16 years old. Twice more, the footballer won similar championships in two other categories. Serra Ferrer, who led the main team of the Catalan club at that time, invited a talented young man to the legendary Barcelona.
Andres’s debut game took place in the Champions League. In the future, the sports biography of the midfielder went hand in hand with Barcelona. Andres played over 600 matches for Barca, scoring over fifty goals. According to statistics, Iniesta is the most titled player in Spain for all the time that football is played in this country.
One of the best midfielders in the history of football is now doing his soccer magic in the land of the rising sun, drawing attention to the Japanese Emperor’s Cup from around the world.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
J1 League: 23 matches, 6 goals, 6 assists.
4 Paul Pogba, overall revenue $33 million
One of the most scandalous football players is in fourth place on the list. The 26-year-old Frenchman is an amazing football player who, depending on his mood, can do magic on the field, or can stay in the background for several matches. His professional sports biography started in 2009. With the scandal, Pogba leaves Le Havre first to the youth squad of Manchester United, and a little later to the second squad. The relationship with the head coach Alex Ferguson didn’t work out.
However, in September 2011, he appeared on the field in the first team at the Football League Cup match against Leeds United. July 3, 2012, the chief mentor of Manchester United said that Paul refused to sign a new contract with the club. Exactly one month later, Pogba enters into a four-year agreement with Juventus, becoming a player in a renowned team.
Already in the first match for the club, the young footballer impressed the coach and the fans. The main coach Antonio Conte trusted the player and regularly let him play. A year later he was recognized as the best young football player in Europe. As part of the French team, he played at the UEFA Euro 2016, playing in the position of the main midfielder. After years spent in Juventus Pogba returned back to MU where he is playing now.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Premier League: 7 matches, 0 goals, 2 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 9 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists.
- International Champions Cup: 2 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists.
3 Neymar (Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior), overall revenue $105 million
Brazilian forward Neymar Jr. is a player with a unique, incredible and unusual style of play. In August 2010, Neymar first appeared in the Brazilian national team and four years later, at the World Cup 2014, he was called the best player several times. His goals were very useful for the team. However, in the quarterfinals, Neymar suffered a spinal injury and was unable to continue the game for the national team, which in the next match was defeated by the Germans with a score of 1:7.
His over $600 million contract with Paris Saint-Germain makes him the highest paid football player 2019. In 2019, he earned $105 million, taking third place in the ranking. Neymar received $75 million for professional activities and $30 million for sponsorship contracts. He actively collaborates with the Red Bull, Nike and Beats, also in 2019 he starred in advertising for MasterCard. The latest project was implemented jointly with Lionel Messi and other famous athletes. Also, according to some rumors, the footballer is going to return to Barcelona in the coming future.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Cope de la Ligue: 1 match, 1 goal, 0 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 2 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists.
- Ligue 1: 10 matches, 8 goals, 4 assists.
2 Cristiano Ronaldo, overall revenue $109 million
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a big name in sports, having won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, Best Players Award, UEFA and FIFA, 4 Golden Shoe titles and many other amazing prizes. His name is famous and influential. He has over 150 million Instagram followers being a true soccer style icon. According to some sources, after signing the contract with Nike the athlete added to his annual income the amount equal to his salary in Real.
Except for Nike his advertising package also includes Herbalife, Tag Heuer, Abbott Labs, and other companies. Meanwhile, the CR7 branded product line is constantly developing with underwear, jeans, shoes, and perfume added.
The central news of 2018 was Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus. After 9 years spent in the Spanish club, the Portuguese made up his mind for transfer which cost €112 million. The contract with the highest paid player in the world 2019 is valid until 2022, with a salary of €30 million per year. This transfer has become the most expensive in the history of Italian clubs.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Serie A: 15 matches, 13 goals, 2 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 6 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists.
- International Champions Cup: 3 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists.
1 Lionel Messi, overall revenue $127 million
Barca pays his living legend lots of money. The 32-year-old Argentinean forward, like Ronaldo, for many years, has been one of the best players and the highest paid footballer in the world 2019 with $92 million annual salary, also very popular outside the football field. Like Ronaldo, Lionel is also a five-time Ballon d’Or holder. In addition to this prestigious award, Lionel also received several outstanding prizes, including the Golden World Cup, 5 European Golden Shoes titles and many other FIFA and UEFA awards. Recently, Messi created his own brand and will now compete with Ronaldo in this area as well.
Recently, in the match of the 18th round of the Italian championship against Cagliari, Ronaldo scored the 36th hat-trick in his career. Messi has only 35 matches with scored three goals, so in the 2019-2020 season, he has to be catching-up again.
Player’s achievements in 2019-2020 season:
- Supercopa de Espana: 1 match, 1 goal, 0 assists.
- UEFA Champions League: 5 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists.
- La Liga: 14 matches, 13 goals, 6 assists.
The highest paid soccer players 2019 income
Professional sports is one of the few areas where development and career growth depend only on individual talents. World football clubs and sports teams hire scouts who are looking for talented and promising young athletes in different countries. For example, Lionel Messi began to play sports at the age of 5 years. One of the shareholders of the Barcelona club became interested in the young soccer player and invited Messi for a trial. The mastery of the Messiah was highly appreciated, so the representatives of the club immediately paid for the athlete’s relocation and his treatment (in his youth, Lionel suffered from a deficiency of growth hormone). And already in 2019, he became the highest paid soccer player in the world. The summary of the other highest paid footballers is shown below.
| Name | Overall revenue | Salary and bonuses | Advertising revenue | Club | Age |
| #10 Gareth Bale | $27.1 million | $20.6 million | $6.5 million | Real Madrid C.F. | 30 |
| #9 Antoine Griezmann | $27.7 million | $23.2 million | $4.5 million | FC Barcelona | 28 |
| #8 Mesut Özil | $30.2 million | $23.7 million | $6.5 million | Arsenal F.C. | 31 |
| #7 Kylian Mbappe | $30.6 million | $22.6 million | $8 million | Paris Saint-Germain F.C. | 21 |
| #6 Alexis Sanchez | $30.8 million | $28.3 million | $2.5 million | Inter Milan | 31 |
| #5 Andres Iniesta | $32.5 million | $30 million | $2.5 million | Vissel Kobe | 35 |
| #4 Paul Pogba | $33 million | $29 million | $4 million | Manchester United F.C. | 26 |
| #3 Neymar da Silva Santos Junior | $105 million | $75 million | $30 million | Paris Saint-Germain F.C. | 27 |
| #2 Cristiano Ronaldo | $109 million | $65 million | $44 million | Juventus F.C. | 34 |
| #1 Lionel Messi | $127 million | $92 million | $35 million | FC Barcelona | 32 |
