Which football players make the list of the world’s best paid athletes?
American business magazine Forbes have released their newest list of the world’s highest paid athletes, and amazingly there are only six footballers amongst the top 20.
Considering the global dominance of the sport, it’s surprising that football comprises only slightly more than a quarter of the list. The figures involved are predictably jaw-dropping.
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Man U signings – Worst Red Devils purchases ever.
6) Neymar – $33.6m (total earnings)
Coming 16th on Forbes’ list is no mean feat considering the Brazilian striker is only 22. Neymar’s earnings are based around his lucrative contract at Barcelona, as well as massive commercial deals with companies like L’Oreal, Castrol and Police sunglasses. Being the face of the 2014 World Cup will have also massively boosted the youngster’s advertising value.
5) Radamel Falcao – $35.4m
The Manchester United striker’s commercial earnings are tiny compared to Neymar’s, but his wages are twice that of the Brazilian. Not only was he earning colossal cash at Monaco, it was all tax free.
4) Gareth Bale – $36.4m
The Welshman is allegedly on a massive $456,000 weekly at Madrid, and his commercial deals in both Spain and the UK also contribute to his bumper year. One images Real Madrid’s Champions League win bonus isn’t to be sniffed at either…
3) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – $40.4m
Zlatan’s social media campaign with Nike has clearly paid off, as he slots in to our list in third place. His wages at PSG probably aren’t too bad either!
2) Lionel Messi -$64.7m
For once Messi loses out to his great rival. Still he has 65 million reasons to be happy about his position on the list, where he sits as the fourth best paid athlete in the world, behind only Floyd Mayweather, LeBron James and…
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – $80m
Ronaldo’s colossal earnings dwarf his Argentinian rival, with his contract at Real alone earning him $206m over the course of its five years.