TOP 6 richest and most successful footballers in the world
Football has long ceased to be just sport #1. The modern footballer is considered one of the highest paid professions, the size of his salary is measured in thousands of dollars a month. Such salaries are prescribed in the contracts of players playing in clubs not the most popular leagues. At the same time, many players defending the colours of the grandees of world football, count millions, and we will help them in this.
It is not surprising that the ranking of the richest footballers in the world includes current or recently graduated players. Every year, the price tags in the transfer market grow significantly. At the same time, the demands of players are also increasing, as modern football grandees are ready to pay million-dollar fees for new victories and titles.
In the top 6 richest footballers, there are stars whose names are known even to inexperienced football fans. Most of them have become no less popular in the advertising business, for which they also receive fabulous profits. Someone actively advertises well-known companies, someone enjoys the role of a film star, and there are also those who create their own brands. Interestingly, some football legends have even partnered with gambling platforms, such as Wanted Casino, further expanding their financial empires.
6. Neymar - $185 million
Another representative of the Brazilian school, which rightfully takes a place in the ranking of the top richest footballers in history - Neymar da Silva Santos Junior (abbreviated - Neymar). He is currently the most expensive footballer in the world - in 2017 he moved from Barcelona to French PSG for a record $222 million.
This transfer caused a big stir around the world. The epathetic Brazilian immediately became the best player of the French championship, but on the international arena successes achieved only with ‘Barça’ - the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. On the account of Neymar several records, which he set while playing for Barcelona.
Now there are a lot of scandalous stories around Neymar. He was accused of unwillingness to pay taxes and other dark deeds. Also, the Brazilian dreams of leaving France - for him the bitter enemy of the Catalan grand ‘Real’ offered $ 300 million, but the leaders of PSG refused to sell the forward. The Brazilian himself wants to return to Barcelona.
In advertising Neymar million-dollar income Neymar brings videos with Nike, Santander, Red Bull, Sony, Volkswagen. Also managed to shine on TV screens - in the Brazilian series ‘Love of Life’ and the film ‘Three X's: World Domination’.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - $190 million.
Wherever ‘Ibra’ goes - he is always on the radar. In the ranking of the richest footballers in the world Zlatan Ibrahimovic is present thanks to successful performances in all the famous clubs, whose colours he defended during his career outside his native ‘Malmö’.
What makes Ibra remarkable is the statistics - with all European teams (Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG and Manchester United) Zlatan has won league titles. Only in England Ibrahimovic failed to get Premier League gold honours, but made up for it by winning the UEFA Europa League Cup.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy for two years now. The Swede agreed to a significant reduction in earnings, receiving in the U.S. $1.5 million (in comparison, in ‘MJ’ for the year Ibrahimovic received $ 27 million). Nevertheless, he has already made a splash in Hollywood - it is possible that we will see a new film star after the end of his career.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed big contracts with Nike and Volvo. The eccentric Swede has also starred in photo shoots for several famous publications.
4. Dave Whelan - $220 million.
One of the richest footballers is considered to be the British Dave Whelan. Popularity brought him not so much a playing career, as business. He owned a network of hypermarkets, which was sold for 1.2 million pounds, which at the time was considered very big money.
With the proceeds Dave Whelan bought the club ‘Wigan Athletic’, later and rugby team from Wigan. With his own money he built a modern stadium, where his clubs matches are held. Dave Whelan also owns the world famous JJB Sports brand.
FC ‘Wigan’ at the time of purchase by Whelan dwelt in the fourth strongest English division. When formalising the deal, the businessman promised that the team from Wigan will play in the Premier League after 10 years. It should happen that the dream of the owner and local fans was realised exactly ten years later! Under the leadership of Dave Whelan, the club reached the final of the English League Cup and made its debut in European competitions.
3. Lionel Messi - $400 million.
10-time champion of Spain, 4-time winner of the Champions League, 5 times recognised as the best player in the world - all this is about Lionel Messi, who is rightfully on the list of the richest footballers. As a child, he was not paid much attention to because of his small stature. But the Barcelona academy believed in this ‘midget’, and he repaid them in full!
At club level, Messi has already achieved everything that every professional footballer can dream of. The only title that is missing in the great collection of the outstanding Argentine is the title of world champion with his native team.
Lionel Messi in the top 10 richest footballers occupies a high third place due to his active participation in the advertising business. He has long been the face of the brands Pepsi and Lay's. Large profits are brought by commercials with products Adidas, MasterCard, McDonald's, Danone, Movistar and many others. For different calculations, only for advertising Messi receives about 70 million dollars a year.
2. David Beckham - $450 million.
The famous David Beckham nicknamed ‘Becks’ has succeeded in everything. He left a mark in the history of world football, and also became a successful film actor and businessman, which allows him to be among the leaders of the ranking of the richest footballers in history.
The best playing years David Beckham spent in the club ‘Manchester United’, which gave the British way into great football. As part of the Mancunians, he won the UEFA Champions League and 6 times became champion of England. Later he spent 4 seasons in ‘Real’, after which he went to the United States, becoming a star of ‘Los Angeles Galaxy’ (Beckham spent 5 years in the United States, which determined his post-football future).
David Beckham spent a lot of time in advertising and cinema. He starred in several dozen films, released his own book, but the main achievement considers the launch of a branded line of stylish clothes and perfumes as his main achievement. At the moment Beckham's fortune is estimated at almost half a billion dollars, which makes him one of the richest footballers.
David Beckham is married to the lead singer of the once fashionable group ‘Spice Girls’ - Victoria Adams. Raises a star family of three sons and one daughter. This union many call the most famous in the world of show business.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo - $470 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo career ‘CR7’ began in his native ‘Sporting’ Lisbon, but the incredible talent immediately noticed the coach of ‘MJ’ - Alex Ferguson. As a result, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo joined the English grandee, in which he instantly became one of the leaders. For 6 seasons in Foggy Albion ‘Ronny’ helped to win ‘MU’ three titles in the Premier League and Champions League.
After England, the Portuguese's career was followed by Real Madrid. For nine years spent in Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo twice became the winner of the Primera and four times raised the UEFA Champions League Cup. Now Cristiano Ronaldo is defending the colours of Italian Juventus, with whom he has already won the Scudetto. At the moment Ronaldo shares the first line with Lionel on the titles of the best player of the year (five times), and has many records in modern football.
The place of the leader in the list of the most expensive footballers in the world provides advertising activities, income from which brings cooperation with Nike (signed a lifetime contract with a fee of almost one billion dollars, the amount is paid in instalments), Fashion Fitness Pao, Fly Emirates and other well-known companies.
Along with this, to lead the ranking of the richest footballers of the planet Cristiano Ronaldohelps his own line of shoes, clothing and underwear under the patented brand ‘CR7’.