Here is the latest list of the world's top 20 Soccer Player celebrities [Updated March 27, 2023].
One of the top soccer players in the world, he rose to fame as a forward for Real Madrid after being acquired from Manchester United for a $131.6 million transfer fee in 2009. He became captain of the Portuguese national team in 2008 and received the Ballon d'Or in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he signed with Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo typically earns more than $60 million per year as a base salary, although this has changed throughout the years and with his different clubs. Off the field, he earns more than $40 million a year from endorsements.
Between June 2017 and June 2018, Cristiano earned $108 million: $61 million through salary and $47 million from endorsements. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $110 million from his empire. In the following one-year period, he earned $120 million.
One of his most lucrative brand endorsement deals was with Nike. In November 2016, it was revealed that Cristiano had signed a $1 billion "lifetime" deal with Nike. Specific terms of the deal are not known but it is believed that the deal came with a $100 million signing bonus.
In addition, Cristiano Ronaldo sells various self-branded products, such as perfumes and clothing.
After spending 9 years with Real Madrid, in 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo signed a four-year deal with Juventus that pays a base salary of $64 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo typically earns more than $60 million per year as a base salary, although this has changed throughout the years and with his different clubs. Off the field, he earns more than $40 million a year from endorsements.
Between June 2017 and June 2018, Cristiano earned $108 million: $61 million through salary and $47 million from endorsements. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $110 million from his empire. In the following one-year period, he earned $120 million.
One of his most lucrative brand endorsement deals was with Nike. In November 2016, it was revealed that Cristiano had signed a $1 billion "lifetime" deal with Nike. Specific terms of the deal are not known but it is believed that the deal came with a $100 million signing bonus.
In addition, Cristiano Ronaldo sells various self-branded products, such as perfumes and clothing.
After spending 9 years with Real Madrid, in 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo signed a four-year deal with Juventus that pays a base salary of $64 million.
Salary Highlights: Over his final six seasons in the MLS with the L.A. Galaxy, David Beckham earned an estimated $255 million including salary, revenue sharing, endorsements, appearances, and licensing. David Beckham's annual Paris Saint-Germain salary was $50 million.
Star soccer forward who gained world fame while playing with FC Barcelona and as captain of Argentina's national team. He won the Ballon d'Or four straight years from 2009 to 2012 and he received the Golden Ball Award after leading the Argentinian national team to the World Cup Championship game in 2014.
Lionel Messi Salary: Lionel Messi is the highest-paid soccer player in the world. Under his previous contract, his annual base salary was $44.68 million. In 2017 he signed a new contract with Barcelona that pays a base salary of $80 million. Messi earns an additional $40 million every year from endorsements. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Lionel grossed $111 million, of which $30 million came from endorsements. He has a lifetime endorsement deal with Adidas. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned a staggering $130 million. Messi has been featured on the covers of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 video games. He and Fernando Torres are the faces of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 video game and helped out with the trailer and motion capturing.
Salary Highlights: When he played for Manchester United, his peak annual salary was $35 million. In his last year at Manchester United, he was earning $27 million. When he joined the LA Galaxy in 2018, he accepted a $1.4 million salary.
Winger who won the PFA Players' Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards during the 2012-13 season while playing for Tottenham Hotspur. He made his debut with the Welsh national team in 2006 and transferred from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013.
Footballing Contracts: After proving himself at Southampton, Bale moved to Tottenham in 2007 for a transfer fee of 7 million pounds. Gareth transferred to Real Madrid in 2013 for a record-breaking 85.3 million pounds. At the time, this was the largest amount ever paid for a football player – breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record (who also signed for Real Madrid).
Years later, Bale signed a contract extension that was intended to keep him at the Bernabeu until 2022. This contract paid the Welsh striker $33 million per year – enough to make him one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world. After a series of conflict-ridden years at Real, Bale transferred back to Tottenham in 2020. Although this was only a loan deal, his return to Spain seemed likely after he completed the transfer.
Salary for New York Red Bulls: Thierry Henry's annual salary with the New York Red Bulls was $5 million per year. This made him the highest-paid player in the MLS at the time, with a salary that dwarfed even that of David Beckham. Eventually, his salary dropped to $3.75 million per year, although he remained the highest-paid player in the league because of additional bonuses.
Salary Details: As of 2020, Paul Pogba reportedly earns 290,000 pounds per week. In 2016, he earned roughly 15 million pounds through his Manchester United salary alone. This is roughly equivalent to $33 million per year. After four years with Juventus, Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016. He signed a five-year contract that pays a $28-million annual base salary. He currently earns an additional $6-10 million per year from endorsements.
Andrés Iniesta Contract History: Andres spent 22 an unprecedented 22 years with Barcelona where he served three years as captain. In 2018 he signed a contract with Japan's Vissel Kobe that pays $30 million per year for three years. That made him one of the 10 highest-paid soccer players in the world and one of the 50 highest-paid athletes.
Andre founded a winery in 2010. One of his most famous bottles is named "Minuto 116" which is a reference of the minute he scored Spain's title-winning goal at the 2010 World Cup.
Contracts: Mesut joined Arsenal in 2013 for 42.5 million pounds. He then signed a three-year contract extension with the team in 2017 that doubled his annual base salary from $12 million per year to $24 million. That's enough to make him one of the 10 highest-paid soccer players in the world. Later, he famously refused to accept a pay cut as an Arsenal player – a move that infuriated fans.
