The best paid stars at the tournament in Brazil.
It seems as if there is nothing else to talk about currently but the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and you know what, here at CaughtOffside we think that is just fine.
From Spain’s elimination to Costa Rica’s 3-1 victory over Uruguay, this tournament has been exciting from the start and looks set to get better and better as the weeks go on.
Off the pitch however there is also plenty to talk about and here are the 10 highest paid players at the competition in South America, with statistics courtesy of Forbes.
10. Mesut Ozil, Germany
Salary: £7.3m (per annum).
Endorsements: £3.5m (per annum).
Total earnings: £10.8m.
Arsenal’s club record signing sneaks in at 10, with the playmaker having cost the Gunners a whopping £42.4m in 2013 and also playing for a nation with a realistic chance of lifting the trophy.
9. Steven Gerrard, England
Salary: £7.8m.
Endorsements: £3.2m.
Total earnings: £11m.
The Three Lions and Liverpool captain next, with Gerrard having had a brilliant domestic season with the Reds and now looking to transfer that onto the international stage.
8. Robin van Persie, Netherlands
Salary: £9.7m.
Endorsements: £1.8m.
Total earnings: £11.5m.
Sticking with stars of the Premier League and this Manchester United striker has already netted three World Cup goals as his Dutch side have reached the last-16 with a game to spare.
7. Fernando Torres, Spain
Salary: £10.5m.
Endorsements: £2.1m.
Total earnings: £12.6m.
Having had another poor year with Chelsea and being part of the Spanish squad that have just crashed out of the tournament as holders, Torres would perhaps be a little embarrassed to be so high on this list.
6. Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast
Salary: £11.3m.
Endorsements: £1.5m.
Total earnings: £12.8m.
Clearly English teams pay their players a lot of money as this Manchester City star is next, although Toure did score 20 league goals last term from central midfield.
4=. Sergio Aguero, Argentina
Salary: £10.8m.
Endorsements: £2.9m.
Total earnings: £13.7m.
Another from the Etihad Stadium now and a striker who is expected to do well at this competition in an Argentinian team billed by many to lift the trophy.
4=. Wayne Rooney, England
Salary: £10.8m.
Endorsements: £2.9m.
Total earnings: £13.7m.
The first country to have two players on this list is the English, with Rooney having earned himself a new £300,000-a-week contract with the Red Devils this year.
3. Neymar, Brazil
Salary: £10.3m.
Endorsements: £9.4m.
Total earnings: £19.7m.
Although not paid as much by FC Barcelona as others on this list, it’s the 22-year-old Brazilian’s endorsements and sponsorship that fires him so far up this table.
2. Lionel Messi, Argentina
Salary: £24.5m.
Endorsements: £13.5m.
Total earnings: £38m.
A big jump now and it’s a player who has won a record four Ballon d’Or trophies and if he does well with the Argentine team at the World Cup will be billed as one of the best ever.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Salary: £30.6m.
Endorsements: £16.5m.
Total earnings: £47.1m.
Yet way out in front is a Real Madrid forward who may not be in this tournament much longer as the 29-year-old is struggling with injury and his nation lost their opener 4-0 to Germany – although he does have the most impressive bank balance.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best players at the 2014 World Cup.