5 players with the most lucrative boot deals

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo - £15 million (Nike)

Manchester United v Burnley - Premier League

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Portuguese international is also one of the biggest superstars in the history of the beautiful game. Ronaldo is a global sporting icon and is the most-followed individual on Instagram with 393 million followers.

As such, it comes as no surprise that getting one of the most popular athletes on the planet to sign a deal with them has cost Nike an arm and a leg. The Portuguese international's marketability is unrivaled and Nike found it appropriate to offer him a lifetime deal reportedly worth £740 million.

Yes, you read that right. That's what you get for being one of the most successful footballers in the world. Ronaldo is by far Nike's highest earning athlete.

#2 Lionel Messi - £18 million (Adidas)

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Nike and Adidas are two of the most popular sports brands in the world. So when Nike gets Cristiano Ronaldo, Adidas obviously has to rope in Lionel Messi. That's how we maintain balance in the world. Messi has a lifetime deal with Adidas and even has his own sub-brand within the company called 'Adidas Messi'.

Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. He has won nearly everything there is to be won, including a record seven Ballon d'Or awards. The Argentinian international has had a wonderful career and is still going strong at the age of 34.

Messi is an idol to many and one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. He earns £18 million a year from his deal with Adidas.

#1 Neymar - £23 million (Puma)

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Neymar might not have reached the heights of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he will go down in history as one of the greatest of the modern era. The PSG attacker continues to be one of the best in the world but niggling injury issues have impeded his journey to the very top.

The Brazilian international is a joy to watch on the football pitch and is one of the most technically gifted and intelligent players to have graced the game.

Nike and Neymar parted ways in 2020. Puma immediately swooped in and tabled an extremely generous offer that couldn't be refused. The length of the deal is not known but the Brazilian international reportedly earns £23 million per year.