10 highest paid sports teams in the world

#1 Barcelona

Tottenham Hotspur v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Group B

Previous rank: 4th (worldwide)

Average annual salary: £10.45 million ($13.31 million)

Highest-paid player: Lionel Messi ($35 million)

The Blaugrana are a case study for sustained success over the course of the past 3 decades. It's one thing to unravel jewels like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and GOAT contender Lionel Messi from their academy, but Barca is regularly dependent on its academy to supply the supporting cast for these stars as well. At one point in their 2012-13 season, they were able to field a combined XI of solely La Masia graduates.

As long as Messi is at the head of their attacks, expect Barca to be perennial contenders for all trophies that they participate in. It helps a lot that they play an effervescent, attacking style of football that is really easy on the eye, for in football, the manner matters as much as the matter in its totality.