When football came to a standstill in March 2020 due to the pandemic and not only did not only receive all of the spectator income for the clubs overnight, but also some or all of the additional funds from the areas of catering, merchandising and marketing, there was often talk of an opportunity . There is a chance that in the world’s most popular sport, economic sense will again increasingly find its way and that crazy transfer fees and salaries can be gradually reduced.
It has long been clear that this hope has not been fulfilled. It may be more difficult for many second and third division players to find a place with a new club and get a well-paid contract, but the old Olympic motto “Faster, higher, further” still applies at the absolute top level. This can also be seen from the Forbes 2021 ranking published at the end of September with the world’s best-paid footballers. In the following, we will go into more detail about the ten leaders in this ranking.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 106.5 million euros
Juventus Turin was reportedly not overly sad when Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to break up his tents in Italy and return to England. First and foremost, because the net salary of the Portuguese superstar, which was estimated at more than 31 million euros per season, was eliminated and the Italian record champions were given free rein in the budget. Ronaldo returned to Manchester United after twelve years at Real Madrid and Juventus, which is said to have only paid a modest 15 million euros transfer fee, but according to Forbes, Ronaldo should continue to pay the Turin salary in the same amount. In addition, there is various advertising income, which should bring the 36-year-old the equivalent of almost 48 million euros per year. The five-time world footballer of the year is the only gross footballer in the three-digit million euro range.
2. Lionel Messi – € 93.7 million
After more than 21 years, Lionel Messi turned his back on FC Barcelona in the summer because the Catalans, who were in debt with around 1.4 billion euros, were no longer able to pay Messi’s salary. After a few days of public regret, however, Messi quickly found consolation at Paris St. Germain and signed a two-year contract with the Qatar-funded French capital city club, including an option for another season. At PSG, Messi is said to earn the equivalent of 65 million euros per season. Added to this are further double-digit million amounts from Adidas, Pepsi and Lays. Similar to Ronaldo, PSG’s expenses for Messi have at least partially amortized through the sale of numerous jerseys and the acquisition of new sponsors.
3. Neymar – € 79.8 million
With a transfer fee of 222 million euros from Paris to FC Barcelona in 2017, Neymar is still the most expensive footballer in the world, but only third behind Ronaldo and his old and new teammate Messi in the ranking of top earners. Like Messi, Neymar is said to collect 65 million euros a year at PSG, although the Brazilian’s advertising deals with Puma and PokerStars are a little less lucrative. Because Neymar is much younger than Messi at the age of 29 and Ronaldo, it is not unlikely that the offensive man, known for his penchant for theatrics, will one day become the world’s top earner.
4. Kylian Mbappé – € 36.6 million
Together with Neymar, PSG signed Kylian Mbappé in 2017, for whom a total of 180 million euros flowed to AS Monaco. The 22-year-old was already world champion in 2018, multiple champion and top scorer in France, but is still longing to win the Champions League. Although PSG invested again in the summer, Mbappé wanted to leave the club for Real Madrid, although Los Blancos were ultimately not ready or perhaps not able to pay the requested transfer fee of 200 million euros. In the summer of 2022, Mbappé is now free of charge and should use this personal advantage to at least come very close to the top trio in the salary ranking. For 24 million euros per year as at the moment at PSG, Mbappé, who is improving his salary as a testimonial of the FIFA series, is unlikely to be available.
5. Mohamed Salah – 34.9 million euros
Like Mbappé, Mohamed Salah also hopes for a significant increase in his salary, at the latest when the contract expires in 2023. Liverpool FC is already trying hard to convince the Egyptian attacker of a long-term future with the Reds, although Salah is reportedly also one Change would stimulate. Because the big clubs outside England, with a few exceptions, are unlikely to be able to outbid Liverpool at the moment, Salah’s signature with the Reds is not unlikely. An extension in Liverpool would certainly not stand in the way of further collaboration with Adidas and Pepsi, for which the English champions of 2020 and Champions League winners of 2019 are promoting.
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6. Robert Lewandowski – 29.8 million euros
Overall, the salary level in the Bundesliga is lower than in the Premier League, for example, but FC Bayern Munich is quite capable of paying top salaries. Robert Lewandowski should collect a good 23 million euros from the German record champions, to which a decent sum is added thanks to advertising deals with Huawei, Nike and T-Mobile. It is possible that the reigning world footballer could earn a little more elsewhere, but after seven very successful years at Bayern, the end of the Polish national player’s career in Munich is now considered not unlikely, despite constant speculation in Transfernews Germany about an interest from Real Madrid. Lewandowski, who has just surpassed Gerd Müller’s seemingly eternal goal scoring record with 41 goals this season, is sure to hit the mark, at least at the age of 33.
7. Andres Iniesta – 29.8 million euros
Somewhat surprisingly, a player appears in this ranking who has actually said goodbye to big football. But Andres Iniesta, who won all sorts of titles with FC Barcelona and not only helped Spain to two European Championship titles, but also scored the golden goal in extra time in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, is still active at the age of 37 – in Japan. At Vissel Kobe, the technically outstanding midfielder receives almost 27 million euros per year and also has one or two lucrative advertising contracts.
8. Paul Pogba – € 28.9 million
According to Transfer Insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United offered to extend its contract, which was due to expire in 2022, months ago. The offer is still on the table, but so far neither the Frenchman nor his advisors have reacted. Presumably also because of this in order to examine other possibilities that would be connected with a salary increase. Pogba already receives more than 23 million euros from Man United and, among other things, from Adidas still advertising money amounting to just under five million euros. But a Manchester United transfer free of charge would probably pay off again.
9. Gareth Bale – € 27.3 million
In 2013, Real Madrid made the signing of Gareth Bale cost 101 million euros as a transfer fee. Added to this is 22.5 million euros per year, which means that the Welsh international should have cost the Whites around 300 million euros to date – with a rather low consideration, Bale was rarely able to really meet the high expectations and was instead often on sick leave . So in Madrid they are certainly not sad that the 32-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season. An extension is almost impossible. How it will go on with Bale, who is said to have already expressed thoughts of retiring from the career, is open at the moment. Financially, however, the still powerful offensive man will certainly have to accept cuts.
10. Eden Hazard – € 24.7 million
Real Madrid also dug deep into their pockets for Eden Hazard and transferred around 115 million euros to Chelsea in 2019. Similar to Bale, the consideration has so far been poor. Hazard, who was one of the most prominent players in England for years and, like Bale, now collects 22.5 million euros per year, was hit with unfortunate injuries in Madrid and rarely reached his top level in his appearances. Until the end of the contract in 2024, the 30-year-old still has enough time to justify the high expenses.
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