44. Xavi (Barcelona) – £17.5m
Midfield maestro Xavi has come to typify two teams; the Barcelona side that have dominated in La Liga and the Spain national team that have won an unprecedented three consecutive major international tournaments.
Now with over 100 caps for his country, Xavi has lifted a World Cup and two European Championships, not to mention six league titles and three Champions Leagues with Barcelona. He is also the record appearance holder for Barcelona.
The 33-year-old – who was recently rewarded with a two-year extension at Barca to run to 2016 – earns £118,000-a week with a further £814,000-a-season in bonuses.
However he could earn a lot more. Last year he showed that money was not his biggest motivator, after reportedly turning down a mega-offer from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala worth £340,000-a-week.
Despite his status in the game, Xavi has not chased a high profile or courted excessive sponsorships. He has enjoyed deals with the likes of Chevrolet and Iberdrola and has a lucrative boot deal with Adidas as one of their main poster boys. He owns a luxury mansion in his home city, Terrassa, and despite his incredible wealth, he lives with his parents and brothers.