FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was in 2013 the highest paid soccer player in the world. The superstar from Argentina earned last year 41 million euros via sponsorship deals and salary. His rival Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid had a total income of 39.5 million euros. Brazilian striker Neymar (FC Barcelona) completes the top 3 with an annual income of 29 million euros.
The top 20 of highest paid soccer players in the world:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – FC Barcelona (Spain) – 41,000,000 euros
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Real Madrid (Spain) – 39,500,000 euros
- Neymar (Brazil) – FC Barcelona (Spain) – 29,000,000 euros
- Wayne Rooney (England) – Manchester United (England) – 24,000,000 euros
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) – Paris Saint Germain (France) – 23,500,000 euros
- Radamel Falcao (Colombia) – AS Monaco (France) – 21,200,000 euros
- Sergio Aguero (Argentina) – Manchester City (England) – 19,700,000 euros
- Thiago Silva (Brazil) – Paris Saint Germain (France) – 17,000,000 euros
- Eden Hazard (Belgium) – Chelsea FC (England) – 16,800,000 euros
- Franck Ribery (France) – Bayern München (Germany) – 16,500,000 euros
- Fernando Torres (Spain) – Chelsea FC (England) – 16,200,000 euros
- Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) – Manchester City (England) – 16,000,000 euros
- David Silva (Spain) – Manchester City (England) – 15,500,000 euros
- Gareth Bale (Wales) – Real Madrid (Spain) – 14,500,000 euros
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) – Bayern München (Germany) – 14,500,000 euros
- Luis Suarez (Uruguay) – Liverpool FC (England) – 14,200,000 euros
- Mario Götze (Germany) – Bayern München (Germany) – 13,900,000 euros
- Philipp Lahm (Germany) – Bayern München (Germany) – 13,000,000 euros
- Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) – Juventus (Italy) – 12,900,000 euros
- Blaise Matuidi (France) – Paris Saint Germain (France) – 12,900,000 euros
Leading Leagues
In the list of the highest paid soccer players you can see clearly that the Spanish Primera Division, English Premier League and the German Bundesliga have a leadingposition in European soccer and are also the most lucrative leagues.
Although Lionel Messi was the best paid soccer player, he is not the highest paid athlete in the world. Golfer Tiger Woods, tennis player Roger Federer and basketball players Kobe Bryant and LeBron James earned in 2013 more than the Argentine player of FC Barcelona.
(Source: France Football)