Money became the major focus in football for the last few decades. Wages and transfer costs are reaching an irrationally high level and even some of the greatest players in the league have piles of money so large that they wouldn’t even fit in the massive arenas where they play.
Spending power has deviated from La Liga to the English Premier League in recent years, making it the most lucrative league in the world.
Now let’s find out who are the highest paid soccer players at the moment.
10. Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is a striker for Atletico Madrid on loan from Barcelona in La Liga and the France national team which included him in the list of highest paid footballers in 2022 because of a massive salary of $22 million with a total earnings of $27.5 million where only $5.5 million comes from endorsement deals with several premium global brands like Huawei and Puma.
9. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is the ninth highest paid player in the world today, earning $29 million in total, $25.5 million of which comes from his club Manchester City and the rest from lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, EA Sports, and Phemex. This versatile player is one of the most decorated figures in his country and also a part of the famous “Golden Generation” of his national team.
8. Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling is one of the most prolific English players of this generation and, at the age of 27, he has played for three major Premier League outfits such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea. After signing with the Blues, Sterling’s total earnings rose to $29.4 million, of which $21.4 million is his current salary from Chelsea. Additionally, his endorsement deals with New Balance, Gillette, and Nike gave him another $8 million.
7. Andres Iniesta
One of the most famous midfielders of all time Andres Iniesta, 38, is a former FC Barcelona player who is currently the skipper of Japanese club Vissel Kobe and has been playing in the J-League for the last couple of years with great power, dedication and responsibility. Despite his age, the FIFA World Cup winner is one of the highest earners currently in the football world with an eye-catching amount of $30 million in total, of which $7 million comes from various endorsement deals such as Nissan, UFX.com, etc.
6. Eden Hazard
Despite spending much time on the bench due to injury since his arrival at the Bernabeu, Eden Hazard of Belgium earns a massive amount at Real Madrid with $31.3 million in total earnings where $28.6 million comes from the salary and only $2.5 million comes from numerous endorsement deals.
5. Mohamed Salah
A striker for Liverpool in the Premier League and captain of the Egyptian national team, Mohamed Salah is widely regarded as one of the game’s top players because of his lethal finishing, deft dribbling, and lightning-fast footwork.
The former winger converted to striker, scoring 32 goals in 36 league games in his first season to earn the Premier League Golden Boot and set a new Premier League scoring record for a season that included 38 games; he now earns $39.5 million in total with $15 million from endorsement deals.
4. Neymar Jr
Neymar, the Brazilian captain, made his professional debut when he was only 17 years old. He now serves as a striker for both Paris Saint-Germain of Ligue 1 and the Brazilian national team.
His current club won consecutive titles with his assistance and he is now one of the most expensive players in the world after his teammates Messi and Mbappe, with a total earnings of $91 million on which $35 million comes from the endorsement deals like Puma. Neymar is one of the most well-known athletes, and he serves as an inspiration to many thanks to his status as the all-time highest goalscorer for his country.
3. Lionel Messi
Argentine skipper Lionel Messi currently plays for PSG where he is earning $62 million per year and definitely one of the GOAT of soccer over the past few decades. After spending his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club record 35 championships, he has won a record seven Ballon d’Or honors and a record six European Golden Shoes. Currently. As the third highest-paid player in the sport, Messi earns $110 million annually with $48 million from several endorsement deals like Adidas and others.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League side Manchester United and captains the Portugal national team, is widely regarded as the best and one of the greatest players of all time, having won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes.
32 major awards, including seven championships in his league, are among his many accomplishments. He has scored 134 goals, which is a record, and has made a total of $113 million through endorsements and other sources. His lifetime agreement with Nike is worth $1 billion.
1. Kylian Mbappe
Currently a striker for both Paris Saint-Germain of Ligue 1 and the French national team, Kylian Mbappe made his professional debut in 2015 at the tender age of 16. This 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is currently the highest earning player in 2022, with a staggering $125 million in total earnings, of which only $20 million comes from various endorsement deals with Nike and others, but $105 million comes from his parent club PSG, making him the most expensive player in the club’s 52-year history.
