The game of soccer is indeed an intense sports for both fans and players. Soccer is loved by many from around the globe and for this reason has managed to draw the attention of industry giants in terms of endorsements and sponsorship. In our top-10 highest-paid football players in 2019/2020, we take you through the list of players who have managed to retain a large chunk of these endorsements thus topping the list of highest paid athletes in their line of duty. Let’s dive right in.
Top 10 Highest Paid Football / Soccer Players 2019/2020
10. Antoine Griezmann
- Salary (bonus included): $23.3M
- Endorsement deals: $4.5M
- Sponsors: Huawei, Puma
- Nationality/Origin: French
- Club: Barcelona FC
- Age:29
- Position:29
Antoine Griezmann is a professional footballer player of French origin / origin, currently playing as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the French national team.
Griezmann put up an astonishing performance at the 2018 Russian World Cup where he led his team to seize the most prestigious trophy in football, Griezmann would eventually make the switch from Athletico dé Madrid
9. Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior
- Salary (bonus included): $27M
- Endorsement deals: $2M
- Sponsors: Adidas
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Club: Shanghai SIPG
- Age: 28
- Position: Attacking Midfielder
Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, popularly dubbed “simply Oscar”, is a professional footballer of Brazilian nationality/origin, currently playing as an attacking midfielder for Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG.
His career has been marred with struggles but the Brazilian attacking midfielder has continued to remain in the spotlight. Oscar’s move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG shot his weekly salary by a wide margin. Oscar was instrumental to the Shanghai SIPG side Super League victory as he recorded 12 goals and 19 assists in 2018.
8. Mesut Özil
- Salary (bonus included): $23.7M
- Endorsement deals: $6.5M
- Sponsors: Mercedes Benz, Adidas, Beats by Dre
- Nationality /Origin: German
- Club: Arsenal
- Age:28
- Position: Attacking Midfielder
Mesut Özil is a professional footballer of German nationality /origin, currently playing for Premier League club Arsenal as an attacking midfielder, but can also be deployed as a winger.
Ozil’s extended his contract with Arsenal, an extension which will keep the German midfielder on that side till 2021, has reportedly shot his yearly income to $24 million, twice his usual yearly income. Ozil abruptly departed German football national side in 2018, due to controversies having racism as a key reason for his departure. Still on his controversies, he was also met with criticism by German football fans and the media following a picture he took with Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan. Among the plethora of investments that increase his worth is his recently founded eSports team, M10 eSports.
7. Kylian Mbappé
- Salary (bonus included): $26.6M
- Endorsement deals: $4M
- Sponsors: Good Got, Hublot, Nike
- Nationality: French
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Age:20
- Position: Attacking Midfielder
Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a professional footballer of French nationality/origin, currently playing as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team.
At the age of 19, Mbappe now 20, he made his way to the top becoming the youngest to score in a World Cup game and the second-youngest player to score in a World Cup final. Mbappe put up an astonishing performance at the 2018 World Cup where he took home the Best Young Player Award and also emerged second in the highest goals scorer chart. He also went on to receive the prestigious “Ligue1 Player of the Year”, this was preceded with a contract with PSG after he played for the team on loan from Monaco.
6. Alexis Sánchez
- Salary (bonus included): $23.8M
- Endorsement deals: $2.5M
- Sponsors: Nike
- Nationality/Origin: Chilean
- Club: Manchester United
- Age: 31
- Position: forward
Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez, popularly dubbed “Alexis”, is a professional footballer of Chilean nationality/origin, currently playing as a forward for Serie A club Inter Milan, on loan from English club Manchester United, and the Chile national team.
His 2018 move to English side Manchester United greatly improved his weekly earning to about $500,000. Though the Chilean forward has had a pretty dismal season, which has seen him struggle with injuries and criticism from fans about his performance, he has scored six goals and made five assists in 37 games, what a guy!!
5. Andrés Iniesta
- Salary (bonus included): $30M
- Endorsement deals: $2.5M
- Sponsors: Asics
- Nationality/Origin: Spanish
- Club: Vissel Kobe
- Age: 35
- Position: forward
Andrés Iniesta Luján is a professional footballer of Spanish nationality/origin, currently playing as a central midfielder for Japanese club Vissel Kobe. Iniesta also spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he served as the captain for three seasons.
A an ex-Barcelona and Spanish international player, Iniesta made a switch from Barcelona to Japanese side Vessel Kobe in 2018. The Spanish forward didn’t just change his club football team, he also extended the changes to his sponsorship deal. Inessa at some point cancelled his 19-year sponsorship deal with Nike, before proceeding with Asics. His winery, the Minuto 116, dubbed after the minute he scored in the 2010 World Cup which helped Spain lift its first World Cup title, also makes him very bankable, thus a major contributor to his growing net worth.
4. Paul Pogba
- Salary (bonus included): $29M
- Endorsement deals: $4M
- Sponsors: Adidas
- Nationality/Origin: French
- Club: Manchester United
- Age: 27
- Position: Central Midfielder,Attacking Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder
Paul Labile Pogba is a professional footballer of French nationality/origin, currently playing for Premier League club Manchester United and the French national team. He mostly plays as a central midfielder, but can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, and deep-lying playmaker.
Pogba was an integral part of the French team in the 2018 World Cup win. His 2016 switch to Manchester United from the Italian side, Juventus at a record transfer fee of $120 million, increased his earnings by a wide margin. Another contributing factor to Pogba’s high earnings is his five-year deal with Manchester United which pays $20 million monthly. Though the French central midfielder is an outstanding player, he struggled under the headship of renowned coach Jose Mourinho, a factor that has been rumoured to have a contribution to the later’s departure from the club.
3. Neymar Jr.
- Salary (bonuses included): $75M
- Endorsement deals: $30M
- Sponsors: MasterCard, Milan, Nike, Red Bull, Beats by Dre, EA Sports, Gillette
- Nationality/Origin: Brazilian
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Age: 28
- Position: Forward
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, popularly dubbed ” Neymar Jr”. or simply Neymar, is a professional footballer of Brazilian nationality/origin,currently playing as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team.
In 2017, the Brazilian forward made headlines after he transferred to PSG at a record transfer fee of $263 Million. The staggering transfer fee shot him to the top making him the most expensive player in the world. Neymar has since then proved his worth for his side and has shown the total amount of $600 million which would be paid to him both in salary and bonuses, is a worthwhile investment. The Brazilian forward has however been tossed around in a series of legal troubles bothering, tax evasion charge, which led to fines of up to $1.2 million. In 2019, in yet another scandal he was was accused of molesting a woman, however the case was thrown out due to insufficient evidence. He also lost his captaincy following an altercation with a fan.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Salary (bonuses included): $65M
- Endorsement deals: $44M
- Sponsors: Electronic Arts, Nike, Alice, Herbalife, CR7 hotel, Fragrance, footwear, clothing line
- Nationality/Origin: Portugal
- Club: Juventus
- Age: 35
- Position: Forward
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a professional footballer of Portuguese nationality/origin,currently playing as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team.
As a formidable candidate for the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) in football, Ronaldo is force to reckon with. A five-time FIFA Player of the Year, and the first player to win the English premier league, the Laliga and Serie A and the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo is a beast on the pitch, a man of ruthless pragmatism best known for his extreme determination, hard work and burning drive for success. He is one of the most influential footballers, especially on social media. He like many others has been in trouble every now and then, he recently paid a $24 million fine for tax evasion and was charged for rape in the USA, an allegation Ronaldo denies.
1. Lionel Messi
- Endorsement deals: $35M
- Sponsors: Gatorade, Pepsi, Nike, Lays, MasterCard, Ooredoo, Jacobs & co
- Nationality/Origin: Argentine
- Club: Barcelona
- Age: 32
- Position: Forward
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is an professional footballer of Argentine nationality/origin, currently playing as a forward and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
He is a player of great repute, a five-time FIFA Player of the Year winner, six-time European Golden Shoe, Messi has won the Laliga an astounding 10 times and several tournaments and accolades. An amazing footballer, though he has not won any tournament at the national level, a fact which seeks to downplay his achievements. The Argentine forward was handed a three-month suspension and a fine to the tune of $50,000 by South American football governing body, CONMEBOL in 2019 after he blindingly accused the body of corruption. He also was handed $2.25 million fine for tax evasion.
Summary
Here is a quick summary of the top 10 highest paid football/soccer players 2019
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Neymar Jr.
- Paul Pogba
- Andrés Iniesta
- Alexis Sánchez
- Kylian Mbappé
- Mesut Özil
- Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior
- Antoine Griezmann
That’s it for this edition of top 10 highest paid football/soccer players 2019 /2020 in the world, if we we left out anyone Please share in the comments section below.