#3 Lionel Messi – $280 million
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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 the Champions League. With a market value of €120 million, Lionel Messi is the most valuable player in the world currently.
Although Messi shocked the world by announcing his retirement from international football, it is not set to affect him financially as he earns a cool £275,000/week after tax from Barcelona.
Messi earns more than $20 million a year from sponsors including Adidas, Audemars Piguet, PepsiCo, Gillette,Turkish Airlines and Electronic Arts. Adidas released a limited edition commemorative Messi shoe after Messi broke Barcelona’s all-time scoring record in March and it sold out within an hour in the U.S.
Last year, Messi also portrayed the role of Iron Man in Samsung ad campaigns to promote Avengers: Age of Ultron. He may not be as flamboyant as Cristiano Ronaldo, but his on-field performances and his quiet lifestyle make him trustworthy and a highly marketable figure.
