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#3 Manuel Neuer (35) - €18 million
Manuel Neuer is one of the top goalkeepers in the game at the moment. The 35-year-old is the first-choice custodian for both Bayern Munich and Germany.
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Neuer has kept over 200 clean sheets in a prolific decade-long stint with Bayern. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has also won nine Bundesliga titles and two continental trebles with the club.
The epitome of a quintessential sweeper-keeper, Neuer is renowned for his excellent reflexes, shot-stopping prowess and ability to play from the back. He recently became the first goalkeeper to play 100 games for Germany. Neuer now has 105 caps and an excellent 44 clean sheets for Die Mannschaft.
Neuer will be a key player in Bayern's quest to win ten consecutive Bundesliga titles this season. He has shown no signs of stopping any time soon and looks set to grace the game for a few more seasons.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (36) - €45 million
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to have graced the beautiful game.
During an illustrious two-decade-long career for club and country, the 36-year-old has scored goals and won titles galore. Last season, Ronaldo won his first Capocannonieri award, scoring 29 goals in 33 Serie A matches. In the process, he became the first Juventus player to score 100 goals in their first three seasons.
Ronaldo enjoyed a productive Euro 2020 campaign, winning five goals and bagging an assist to take home the Golden Boot. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has also returned to Manchester United this summer. Yet to make his second debut for the club, Ronaldo recently broke Ali Daei's record for most goals (109) by a male player in international football as well. The Portuguese now sits atop the list with 111 goals for his national team.
He will now hope to hit the ground running at United, whom he left to join Real Madrid 12 years ago. Ronaldo, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal, is the only player to win five Champions League titles. Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid's all-time top scorer also happens to be the all-time top scorer in the Champions League.
#1 Lionel Messi (34) - €80 million
Lionel Messi, like Ronaldo, is widely regarded as one of the finest players to have played the game.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is still going strong at the age of 34. He played a starring role in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign, scoring four goals and bagging five assists.
Messi joined PSG after a highly successful 17-season stint with Barcelona this summer. The Blaugrana were unable to extend the Argentine's contract due to La Liga's fair play regulations, which saw him move to France. Messi tallied almost 1100 goal contributions (672 goals, 305 assists) at Barcelona, winning ten La Liga titles and two continental trebles.
The 34-year-old is widely expected to play a starring role for his new club as PSG seek to become the latest team to win the Champions League.
