Forbes recently released a list of highest paid footballers in the world. See the top 20 below:
#1 David Beckham
Total earnings: $50.6 million
Age: 37
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: United Kingdom
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Breitling, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury
One reason David Beckham agreed to donate to charity the salary he will earn during his current 5-month stay at Paris Saint-Germain? He can afford it. The 37-year old British midfielder had his best year in 2012 in terms of commercial endorsements, banking $44.1 million from sponsors including Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury and newest partner, Breitling. Off the pitch he won his second MLS cup with the Los Angeles Galaxy on his way to taking in another $6.5 million to earn a total of $50.6 million last year. Next continent to conquer is China. Becks signed a multi-year deal to become an ambassador for the Chinese Super League, a role which will see him make three trips in 2013 to the country and play an an exhibition game.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Total earnings: $43.5 million
Age: 28
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Portugal
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Castrol, Clear Shampoo, Mobitti, Konami, Banco Espirito Santo
The 2012 runner-up world's best player of the year was proud enough to
have his sponsor, Nike, commemorate his record 60 goals in 55 games last
year by stitching both numbers (among other stats) into his boots.
Contract extension talks with Real Madrid stalled prior to the start of
the 2012/13 season over the player's share in his image rights. He
currently splits them 60-40 with the club, known for usually taking 50
percent of a player's rights. The Portuguese winger has a lot at stake
-- he currently earns $21.6 million of his total $43.5 million from
sponsors. His current contract runs through the 2014/15 season.
#3 Lionel Messi
Total earnings: $40.3 million
Age: 25
Club: Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Pepsi, EA Sports, Head & Shoulders, Herbalife, Turkish Airlines, Dolce & Gabana
After scoring 91 goals in all competitions last year to break a
40-year-old world record held by Gerd Muller, Messi then won FIFA’s
world player of the year award for a record fourth year in a row.
Barcelona rewarded the 25-year old who started his career as a youth at
the club with a record contract extension through 2018 that will pay him
up to $21.2 million a year and make him the highest earner
on-the-pitch. Adidas recently launched his icon signature line, only the
second time they have done so for one of their brand ambassadors (the
first was with David Beckham).
#4 Sergio Aguero
Total earnings: $20.8 million
Age: 24
Club: Manchester City
Country: Argentina
Major Sponsor(s): Puma, Pepsi
Only halfway into his 2nd year on his current 5-year contract, Aguero is
set to cash in again with a reported new 5-year deal with Man City --
an attempt to ward off suitors rumored to include Real Madrid. This
despite the fact that his goal scoring this season is off top form from
last season. Sponsor Puma found the Argentine, nicknamed 'Kun', has
another talent and will feature it in a new commercial. The striker can
sink a straight shot on the pool table.
#5 Wayne Rooney
Total earnings: $20.3 million
Age: 27
Club: Manchester United
Country: United Kingdom
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Harper Collins
Rooney appears at a crossroads in his career, during the middle of his
current 5-year contract. His fate with Man U is constantly in the
headlines with rumors that he's fallen out of favor with the club and
manager Sir Alex Ferguson but that a hoped summer transfer is improbable
due to his high salary. Off the pitch, sponsors are drying up. Most
recently, EA Sports decided to end it's 7-year partnership with the
striker. None of this has left Rooney at a loss for words though. His
third book as part of his deal with Harper Collins title "My Decade In
The Premier League" was published in September.
#6 Yaya Toure
Total earnings: $20.2 million
Age: 29
Club: Manchester City
Country: Ivory Coast
Major Sponsor(s): Puma
The Ivory Coast midfielder signed a new contract with Man City at the
beginning of this month with a slightly reduced basic wage but loaded
with incentives tied to the team's success. This latest 4-year deal ties
him up with the club through 2017 and is worth up to $20 million a year
in salary and bonus that will keep him among the sports top earners on
the pitch.
#7 Fernando Torres
Total earnings: $20.2 million
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Country: Spain
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Pepsi
Since joining Chelsea in January 2011, the Spanish striker has failed to
live up to his past production at Liverpool which led to his near $80
million British record transfer fee. Not only has he been often left out
of the Blues' starting lineup, his national team has recently
overlooked him completely for international competition. Still this
season in all competitions, he has scored 20 goals for his club. After
opting to wear a pair of Adidas boots during a match in February, rumor
swirled Torres may be making the switch from Nike at the end of this
season.
#8 Neymar
Total earnings: $19.5 million
Age: 21
Club: Santos
Country: Brazil
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Konami, Panasonic, Red Bull, Santander, Unilver, Volkswagen
The young Brazilian superstar, already one of the most prolific scorers
in the history of Santos, is on the verge of a popularity boom. He is
touted as the complete package: young, skillful and good-looking.
Speculation exists that a move to Spain -- most likely Barcelona -- is,
if not imminent, inevitable. But the wonderkid is currently raking in
the riches playing at home. Sponsors have lined up in anticipation of a
move to a more globally marketed team and the 2014 World Cup where his
country is expected to make him the face of the competition. In the past
year his total earnings have more than doubled.
#9 Ricardo Kaka
Total earnings: $19.3 million
Age: 30
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Brazil
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Pepsi
Once regarded as one of the best players in the world, the oft-injured
and reserved Kaka is rumored to be scrambling to find a suitable home to
play on a more regular basis than he currently does with Real Madrid. A
loan to his former club AC Milan in January failed due to his high
cost. His current club was said to want to recoup the nearly $91 million
they paid to get him from the Serie A club in 2009 but was unable to
work out a suitable deal. The player squashed reports that clubs in his
native Brazil and the Los Angeles Galaxy are in the running for his
services when he said he wants to remain in Europe ahead of the 2014
World Cup, in order to increase his chances of making his national team.
#10 Didier Drogba
Total earnings: $17.8 million
Age: 35
Club: Galatasaray
Country: Ivory Coast
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Pepsi
After eight years with Chelsea where he scored 157 goals in 341
appearances and helped them win 10 titles including their 2012 Champions
League trophy, the Ivory Coast Striker signed in June 2012 with
Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League which has been dogged by
scandal and match-fixing. The two-and-a-half-year deal to pay him up to
$300,000 a week turned into a six-month stint. The club's owners battled
for control and Drogba went unpaid. In January Galatasaray signed him
to an 18-month deal.
#11 Steven Gerrard
Total earnings: $17.3 million
Age: 32
Club: Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas
#12 Emmanuel Adebayor
Total earnings: $16.7 million
Age: 29
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Country: Togo
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Power Horse
#13 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Total earnings: $16.6 million
Age: 31
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: Sweden
Major Sponsor(s): Nike, Bonnier
#14 Carlos Tevez
Total earnings: $16.6 million
Age: 29
Club: Manchester City
Country: Argentina
Major Sponsor(s): Nike
#15 Samuel Eto'o
Total earnings: $16 million
Age: 32
Club: Anzhi Makhachkala
Country: Cameroon
Major Sponsor(s): Puma
#16 Samir Nasri
Total earnings: $15.7 million
Age: 25
Club: Manchester City
Country: France
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas
#17 Frank Lampard
Total earnings: $15.7 million
Age: 34
Club: Chelsea
Country: United Kingdom
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Little Brown
#18 John Terry
Total earnings: $15.6 million
Age: 32
Club: Chelsea
Country: United Kingdom
#19 David Silva
Total earnings: $15.4 million
Age: 27
Club: Manchester City
Country: Spain
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas
#20 Karim Benzema
Total earnings: $14.9 million
Age: 25
Club: Real Madrid
Country: France
Major Sponsor(s): Adidas, Hyundai, EA Sports
Did your favourite player make the list?
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