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Footballers continue to enjoy their status as some of the highest-paid athletes in the world and no club spends more on their players than PSG. Infusing money into club football has proven to be a great way of winning silverware.
The French giants took another step in their search for an ever-elusive Champions League trophy by signing Lionel Messi this season. While the Argentine might not be hitting top form yet, he has surely had a huge impact on their wage bill.
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On that note, let's take a look at the 5 highest-paid players currently at PSG.
Note: All figures are estimates from various sources including Sillyseason, Sportekz and AS).
#5 Marco Verratti - £250,000 per week
It is rare to see a player who has scored only a handful of goals every season as one of the highest-paid players at a club like PSG. Marco Verratti commands a weekly wage of £250,000 per week.
Verratti's creative ability and mastery over the ball make him the bedrock on which the team's attacking moves are built around. The Italian midfielder has won 27 trophies with the club since 2012. The biggest achievement of his career came in 2021 when he won the European Championship with the Italian national team.
Verratti signed a five-year deal with the club in 2019. Given his valuable performances for the team, he is certainly in line for an improved deal in the future.
#4 Marquinhos - £250,000 per week
Marquinhos could be considered among the greatest Brazilians to ever feature in Ligue 1. He has established himself as one of the greatest defenders in the world during his eight-year association with Les Parisiens.
The player is great in the air, makes clean tackles and is rarely involved in any off-the-field controversies. Since Thiago Silva's departure in 2020, he has assumed the captaincy and led from the front.
As things stand, his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2024. However, according to several reputed French publications, he is set to be offered a two-year contract extension soon which will come with a wage boost.
Nonetheless, at £250,000 per week, he is one of the highest-paid defenders in the world.
#3 Kylian Mbappe - £310,000 per week
PSG have a star-studded lineup and no player is more important to them than 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe. The former Monaco forward was the standout star for the French club in 2021, scoring 43 goals across all competitions.
On a personal level, Mbappe continued to break records as he became the youngest player to reach 30 goals in the Champions League. He was also the first player to score more than 25 goals in six consecutive seasons since the legendary Michel Platini in 1985.
It is important to note that Mbappe's contract expires this summer and he is available to be signed for a free transfer this month. PSG are hell-bent on offering their prized possession a new deal. It is likely that in order to retain him, the Frenchman will have to be made the highest-paid player at the club.
#2 Neymar - £490,000 per week
Paris Saint-Germain's signing of Neymar was an unprecedented event and the club shelled a whopping £190 million for the former Barcelona star. Neymar has been outstanding for the club. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from ever playing a full season.
Neymar is expected to stay with the club for a long time now. He was offered an improved deal last year, which will see him stay at the club till 2025. Neymar pockets a handsome sum of £490,000 per week, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
#1 Lionel Messi - £650,000 per week
It is no surprise that Lionel Messi finished at the top of this list. The seven-time Ballon d'Or win had a year to remember in 2021, as he won his first major international trophy with Argentina at the Copa America and his long association with Barcelona also came to an end.
Messi has remained the highest-paid footballer in the world despite reportedly taking a 50% wage cut to finalize his free transfer to the Ligue 1 giants. The player has not gotten off to a great start at PSG. At the halfway point in the season, he has just one goal in Ligue 1.
As per Messi's two-year contract with the club, he earns £650,000 per week. Sooner or later the investment is sure to pay off.
The Argentinian has enjoyed a good run of form in the Champions League. If Mauricio Pochettino rotates his squad wisely for the rest of the campaign, the glistening trophy might be within their reach.
