10 highest paid footballers in the world

The two best footballers in the world right now are arguably Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but, surprisingly, both of them are not among the top two best-paid footballers.

China has emerged as the new contender in world football with the Chinese Super League spending ridiculous amounts of money to lure players from Europe. They even tried to convince Cristiano Ronaldo to join their ‘revolution’, but Ronaldo who just signed a 5-year extension with Real Madrid decided to stay back and achieve more glories and trophies with Los Blancos.

However, there is no denying the power of Chinese Super League and it comes as little surprise that as many as 5 players from the super-rich league make this list. Without much ado, let us take a look at the 10 footballers with the highest salaries currently.

10 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - £260,000/week

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is the tenth highest paid footballer in the world. Rooney is considered to be one of England's most talented players and Manchester United are paying an eye-watering amount of £260,000 a week to keep their captain at Old Trafford.

Having comfortably been outshined by players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and even Martial and Rashford, Rooney has looked slightly jaded and off the pace this season with Mourinho opting to keep him on the bench more often than not.

Playing in a variety of positions, be it the role of a striker or as a no.10, Rooney has failed to capture the fans' imagination at the Theatre of Dreams. However, fans should write off a player of Rooney’s class at their own peril as the Englishman is more than capable of providing moments of magic.

But seeing the ridiculously high wages Rooney gets, fans will be questioning whether Wayne Rooney has done enough to justify such a high salary.

9 Neymar (Barcelona) – £275,000/week

Considered as a future Ballon d’Or winner and a long-term heir to Lionel Messi, Neymar is among the best-paid footballers in the world. The 24-year-old recently signed a 5-year contract extension amid rumours of interest from PSG and Manchester United and Barcelona significantly increased his weekly wages, raising it by almost £60,000 per week.

The Brazilian superstar has been one of the best players in La Liga and across the world ever since he made the move to Barcelona, playing a key role in Barcelona’s stunning treble season in 2014/15 season and their double in 2015/16 season scoring crucial goals and forming a devastating partnership with Suarez and Messi.

Neymar's dribbling skills, tricks and playmaking ability are reminiscent of compatriot Ronaldinho. His common traits are his creativity, passing, finishing, dribbling, feints and technique, being described as both "electric" and "explosive".Although naturally right-footed, he is capable of scoring with both feet, as well as with his head, and is an accurate free-kick and penalty taker.

Considered to be the next big football superstar, it is only a matter of time before Neymar becomes the highest paid footballer in the world.

8 Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng) – £290,000/week

A large, strong and hardworking striker, Graziano Pelle nearly quadrupled his salary when he made a move from Southampton to struggling Chinese Su[er League side Shandong Luneng.

Earning an absolutely eye-watering amount of £290,000/week, Pelle has settled well into his life at China scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists in his 13 league appearances so far.

Although Pelle moved to China, Italy’s new coach Ventura called him back for international duty with the Italian scoring in a friendly against France and scoring in an important World Cup qualifier against Israel. However, he was sent back to China for misbehaviour when he refused to shake the hands of Ventura during a match against Spain. He has not been called to the Italian squad since then.

While there is no denying the fact that Pelle is a very good striker, it is safe to say that Chinese side Shandong Luneng have paid over the odds to secure the services of the Italian striker.

7 Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – £292,000/week

Paul Pogba became the world’s most expensive transfer when he made a stunning £89 million move to Manchester United from Juventus in the summer. Still only 23, Pogba is already among the best-paid players in the world with the Premier League giants tying him down to a long-term contract and paying an immense amount of money for his vast potential.

Earmarked as a future Ballon d'Or winner by many pundits and even Jose Mourinho himself, Pogba had a tough start at Old Trafford this season, struggling to live up to the hype and huge transfer fee. However, in recent weeks, Pogba, much like Manchester United has come into his own, putting in a number of good performances in his favoured central midfield position.

A powerful, skilful and creative player with a penchant for scoring spectacular goals, Pogba might well be worth the huge sum Manchester United paid if he fulfils his immense potential and becomes one of the best midfielders of our generation.

6 Hulk (Shanghai SIPG) – £320,000/week

Brazilian forward Hulk turned some heads when he made a scarcely believable Asian record €55.8 million transfer to Chinese Super League giants Shanghai SIPG. The former Zenit St.Petersburg man also became one of the highest-paid footballers in the world in the process.

Hulk had a bad start to his career at Shanghai SIPG when he was stretchered off due to a muscle injury in his first game. However, after a two-month lay-off, Hulk showed his worth when he scored two goals in his first game back.

With 4 goals in 7 matches, Hulk has settled in well and his employers will be hoping that the talented Brazilian forward lives up to his huge reputation and guides them to a Super League title next season.

5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £336,000/week (after tax)

The only footballer ever to win the Ballon d’Or five times, Lionel Messi is an absolute phenomenon. The diminutive Argentine has been Barcelona’s main man since 2008 and has put in some spell bounding performances in La Liga and the Champions League.

His pace and technical ability enable him to undertake individual dribbling runs towards goal, often leading to spectacular solo goals. Tactically, Messi plays in a free attacking role; a versatile player, he is capable of attacking on either wing or through the centre of the pitch.

Having formed a fearsome partnership with Suarez and Neymar, Barcelona will be desperate to sign Messi on a new contract. With rumours suggesting that Bartomeu wants to make Messi the highest paid player in Europe, the Argentine might well be higher up on this list next year.

4 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) £350,000/week (after tax)

Backed to be the best player in the world in the future by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez and manager Zinedine Zidane, Bale recently signed a bumper new contract on 30^th October which will keep him at Santiago Bernabeu until 2022.

One of the fastest footballers in the world, Gareth Bale is known for his pace, skill, agility and ability to get past defenders due to his awesome acceleration. Football pundit Mark Lawrenson recently commented about Bale saying:

“What makes Gareth Bale so special? Simple. He is one of the quickest players I've ever seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the next stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at great pace."

The only thing holding back Bale from genuine greatness is his fitness issues and if the Real Madrid forward manages to be fit, he might well become as great as Cristiano Ronaldo for the All Whites.

3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £365,000/week (after tax)

One of the two stand out footballers of this generation along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the beautiful game. Ronaldo’s goal scoring exploits have been mind boggling considering the fact that he plays as a winger on most occasions.

The Portuguese superstar first captured the world’s attention at Manchester United, putting in some stunning performances, leaving defenders flat-footed with his dazzling skills. After his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo took his game to a whole new level becoming one of the best goalscorers ever to play the game.

Having a burning desire to be the best, Ronaldo has worked hard to hone his undoubtedly prodigious talent. Ronaldo is capable of scoring all types of goals be it stunning long-range efforts, free kicks, simple tap-ins or even powerful headers.

Having signed a new contract in 2016, Ronaldo is the highest paid footballer in Europe.

2 Oscar (Shanghai SIPG) & Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebei China Fortune) – £400,000/week

There was huge furore in the football world recently when Football Leaks released information that Lavezzi earned nearly £200,000 more than his Argentine compatriot Lionel Messi at Hebei China Fortune.

The Argentine winger has failed to have much of an impact in the Chinese side however, having made only 10 appearances due to an injury he picked up during international duty with Argentina.

On the other hand, Oscar recently shocked the footballing world when he said that he would be making a move to Shanghai SIPG in the January transfer window for a reported fee of £60 million.

At Shanghai SIPG, Oscar will be able to partner with his Brazilian compatriot Hulk earning a cool £400,000/week in the process. Oscar and Lavezzi together are the second highest paid footballers in the world.

1 Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua) – £615,000/week

Argentine footballer Carlos Tevez just won the lottery when he made an extremely lucrative move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. A technical, tactically intelligent and creative player with an eye for scoring important goals, Tevez is capable of playing in multiple positions across the forward line although he mainly plays as a striker or support striker.

Lauded for his pace, tactical nous and work rate when his team loses possesion, Tevez is a manager’s dream and has been successful for multiple teams in various top teams around the world.

Undoubtedly the most high-profile player in the uber rich league, Tevez is making a killing with his £615,000/week a salary. Just to put things into perspective, the Argentine earns close to £29,285 while sleeping.

The Argentine striker is the highest paid footballer in the world.

Some of the other highest-paid footballers in the world are:

David De Gea and Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United) – £200,000

David Silva (Manchester City) – £210,000

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) – £220,000

Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure (Manchester City) – £230,000

Robin van Persie (Fenerbahce) – £240,000