10 footballers with the highest weekly wages in the world

#3 Lionel Messi - £500,000

Lionel Messi received a massive pay raise in the summer of 2017

Lionel Messi has become a household name over the last 10 years and has come to be known as one of the best footballers to have ever graced the sport. His status as a global icon has brought him several endorsement deals and sponsorships, which has only served to raise his stock. The Argentinian currently sits third on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes in the world, behind LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo.

While a large part of his net worth comes from his long range of endorsement deals, a significant chunk of it also comes from his weekly salary. Messi is rumoured to earn close to £500,000-per-week, which works out to an annual salary of £35 million with add-ons.

Neymar's departure may allow Barcelona to further improve Messi's wages, and although Messi's contract will expire in 2018, he could be signing an improved deal soon.