Lionel Messi comes second in the list of highest paid footballers around the world
Lionel Messi comes second in the list of highest paid footballers around the world
Forbes is an American business magazine. Published bi-weekly, it features original articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. Forbes also reports on related subjects such as technology, communications, science, politics, and law. Its headquarters is located in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Cristiano Ronaldo has overtaken his longstanding rival Lionel Messi on Forbes 2020 rich list to become the highest-paid football player in the world, but he is not the top earning athlete across the globe.
Forbes have released their annual rich list of the highest-paid athletes worldwide, but for the first time in four years no footballer sits at the top.
The American business magazine explains that footballers have already felt the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to several salary cuts.
For a first time since 2016, the top 100 athletes in the world of sport have earned less between them than in the previous year, with Forbes claiming there has been a 9% decline in comparison to 2019.
For a first time in his career, Roger Federer has climbed to the top of the rich list, with pre-tax earnings of $106 million (R1.86 billion) over the past year.
The Swiss tennis star has beaten Ronaldo and Messi to the top spot, with the Juventus superstar sitting in second position with an overall income of $105 million (R1.84 billion), while the Argentine pocketed $104 million (R1.82 billion).
Even though Ronaldo and Messi earned a combined $209 million (R3.7 billion) over the past 12 months, their income reduced by a whopping $28 million (R491 million) compared to 2019 due to salary reductions.
Messi’s basic salary is higher than Ronaldo’s, with the FC Barcelona forward receiving an estimated $72 million (R1.26 billion) in annual wages and win bonuses and the Juve hitman pocketing $60 million (R1.05 billion) in salary and add-ons.
However, Ronaldo’s massive endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, Altice, Herballife and his own CR7 brand saw him earn an additional $45 million (R789 million), while Messi received $32 million (R561 million) in sponsorship from Adidas, MasterCard and PepsiCo, among others.
Overall, athletes from 10 different sport codes made the final list, with 14 football players sitting on this year’s top 100 - you can find all of them, including one African superstar, in the gallery above.
14) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) – $21.8 million
Sergio Ramos García is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for and captains both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team as a centre back. He has also played as a right back.
Ramos is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, and has also received praise for his passing and goalscoring capabilities.
13) Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – $25.2 million
Gareth Frank Bale is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Wales national team.
Renowned for his ball striking from distance, swerving free kicks, and his ability to get past defenders with pace, Bale has received plaudits from his peers, who have described him as a footballer with "tremendous speed, great crossing ability, a great left foot and exceptional physical qualities".
12) Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United/Inter MIlan) – $25.6 million
Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez, also known simply as Alexis, is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Inter Milan, on loan from English club Manchester United, and the Chile national team. He is popularly dubbed "El Niño Maravilla".
Sánchez began his career as a youth player for Cobreloa at age 17, before relocating to Italy to play for Udinese in 2006. He won consecutive league titles in loans spells to Colo-Colo and River Plate.
In 2008, he returned to Udinese and became an integral member of the team. After three seasons in at the club, Sánchez moved to Barcelona in a transfer worth €30 million (£25 million), becoming the most expensive Chilean player of all time. In his first season at Barcelona, Sánchez starred in an attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and David Villa.
The trio scored a total of 82 goals the following season, as the club won the 2012/13 La Liga. In 2014, Sánchez transferred to Premier League side Arsenal, where he quickly established himself as the figurehead of the team, winning the FA Community Shield, as well as the FA Cup on two occasions, and scoring in both finals. After lacking "inspiration" at the direction of the club, he signed for rivals Manchester United in a swap deal in 2018.
11) David De Gea (Manchester United) – $25.7 million
David de Gea Quintana is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Manchester United and the Spain national team. He is regarded to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Born in Madrid and raised in nearby Illescas, De Gea began his playing career with Atlético Madrid, rising through the academy system at the club before making his senior debut in 2009, aged 18. After being made Atlético's first-choice goalkeeper, he helped the team win the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2010.
His performances subsequently attracted the attention of Manchester United, and De Gea joined the club in June 2011 for £18.9 million, a British record for a goalkeeper at the time.
Since joining United, De Gea has made over 300 appearances and won a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a League Cup, three Community Shields and the UEFA Europa League.
For three consecutive seasons from 2013/14 to 2015/16, he was elected as United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, the first player in the award's history to win on three successive occasions (four in total), as well as being included in four consecutive (five in total) PFA Team of the Year sides from 2015 to 2018. In 2018 he was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
10) Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona) – $26.7 million
Antoine Griezmann is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the French national team.
Born and raised in Mâcon, Griezmann began his senior career as a member of Spanish side Real Sociedad in 2009, with whom he won the Segunda División title in his first season, departing five seasons later to join Atlético Madrid for a then-club record €30 million.
Although featuring mostly as a winger during his time with Sociedad, Griezmann adapted his game in Madrid to become a complete forward, and quickly became the focal point of the team.
He went on to break the club's scoring record for a debut season, and was named in the 2014/15 La Liga Team of the Season. He was also named La Liga Best Player in 2016, and finished third for both the 2016 Ballon d'Or and 2016 Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
Griezmann was again nominated for the awards in 2018, finishing third and sixth respectively, as he helped Atlético win the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League, scoring twice in the final.
Griezmann also won the 2014 Supercopa de España and 2018 UEFA Super Cup during his time in Madrid, and ranks as the club's fifth-highest goalscorer.
In July 2019, Griezmann departed Atlético to join league rivals Barcelona in a €120 million deal, making him the joint-fourth most expensive football player of all-time.
9) Oscar (Guanghzou Evergrande) – $27.5 million
Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, better known as simply Oscar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG. Oscar began his career at São Paulo, and in 2009, he went to court against the club due to irregularities in his contract.
8) Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – $28.5 million
Paul Labile Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United and the French national team. He operates primarily as a central midfielder, but can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, and deep-lying playmaker.
Pogba's performances at Juventus led to him returning to Manchester United in 2016 for a then world record transfer fee of €105 million (£89.3 million).
The fee paid for him remains the highest paid by an English club. In his first season back, he won the League Cup and the Europa League. In the 2018/19 season, he was named to the PFA Team of the Year.
7) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) – $28.7 million
Mesut Özil is a German professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Arsenal as an attacking midfielder, but can also be deployed as a winger. He is renowned for his technical skills and creativity; due to his agility, finesse and versatility as an attacking midfielder.
6) Andres Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) – $29.6 million
Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he served as the captain for three seasons.
5) Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) – $33.8 million
Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his clinical finishing, dribbling, strength, and explosive speed.
4) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – $35.1 million
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed.
3) Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) – $95.5 million
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, commonly known as Neymar Jr. or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. He is widely considered as one of the best players in the world.
2) Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) – $104 million
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) – $105 million
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team.
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