Highest Paid Soccer Players 2015
Soccer is one of those sports that, apart from its spirit and thrill, also features among the top paying games in the current time. It is viewed by almost 250 million people around world. The soccer players are in the spotlight, and have their own fan following, too. They not only enjoy popularity, but also a huge pay, and not just from the national teams or clubs they represent. They have big earnings from being the faces of megabrands. Brands like Nike, Adidas, Pepsi, etc. used the recent FIFA World Cup of 2014 as a platform to choose the best players and roped them in into contracts, paying huge compensations. So, let us look at the Top 10 Highest Paid Soccer Players 2015.
Top 10 Highest Paid Soccer Players 2015
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $73 million
Legendary soccer player of recent days Cristiano Ronaldo aka CR7 plays for the Portuguese national soccer team and also for the Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga BBVA. Ronaldo earns $49 million as the yearly salary from the club and $24 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $73 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. CR7 appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such as Nike, Samsung, Fly Emirates, Herbalife and Tag Heuer. He earned a total net worth of $206 million for his 5 years contract with Spanish club Real Madrid. Last year Cristiano launched his own brand of underwear with the CR7 name which also increased his yearly income. Besides being the highest paid soccer player, he is also counted among the highest paid athlete in the world.
Bonus: Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth 2015
2. Lionel Messi – $65 million
Legendary soccer player of modern days Lionel Andrés Messi aka Leo Messi plays for the Argentina national soccer team and also for the Barcelona in the Spanish Liga BBVA. Messi earns $42 million as the yearly salary from the club and $23 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $65 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Messi appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such as Adidas, Pepsi, Samsung, Herbalife and Turkish Airlines. Messi achieved a record consecutive four times the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Adidas before the recent FIFA World Cup launched his own signature shoe last year. Spanish tax authority ordered him pay $6.5 million last year.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – $34 million
Amazing soccer player of modern days Zlatan Ibrahimovic aka the best bicycle kicker plays for the Swedish national soccer team and also for the Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1. Ibrahimovic earns $30 million as the yearly salary from the club and $4 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $34 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Ibrahimovic appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such as Volvo and Nike. He became the top scorer of French league with 30 goals which is a record in last 20 years. Irrespective of his efforts on the ground, the Swedish national team was not able to qualify for recent 2014 FIFA World Cup.
4. Neymar Jr – $28 million
Amazing soccer player of modern days Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior aka Neymar Jr. plays for the Brazilian national soccer team and also for the Barcelona in the Spanish Liga BBVA. Neymar Jr. earns $12 million as the yearly salary from the club and $16 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $28 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Neymar Jr. appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such Nike, Panasonic, Castrol, Volkswagen and L’Oreal. He signed a contract with the Spanish club Barcelona for $124 million in 2013. He was also given a total of $13 million signing bonus in his transfer from the Brazilian club Santos.
Bonus: Neymar’s Net Worth 2015
5. Radamel Falcao – $26 million
Amazing soccer star of modern days Radamel Falcao García Zárate aka Falcao García plays for the Colombian national soccer team and also for the Manchester United on loan from AS Monaco in the English Premier League. Falcao García earns $23 million as the yearly salary from the club and $3 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $26 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Falcao García appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such Gillette, Puma and Samsung. After he scored 34 goals in 41 caps during his days with Atletico Madrid, he was also nicknamed El Tigre. French team AS Monaco signed him in a 5 years contract.
6. Gareth Bale – $15 million
One of the most prolific soccer stars of modern days Gareth Frank Bale or just Gareth Bale plays for the Wales’s national soccer team and also for the Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga BBVA. Gareth Bale earns $15 million as the yearly salary from the club and $9 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $24 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Gareth Bale appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such Adidas, Lucozade and EA Sports. He earns up to $456,000 in weekly wages for his recent contract with Spanish club Real Madrid in 2013. He was transferred to Real Madrid from English Premier League Tottenham Hotspur with a transfer fee worth of $118 million.
7. Wayne Rooney – $22 million
One of the most amazing soccer stars of modern days Wayne Mark Rooney or just Wayne Rooney plays for the English national soccer team and also for the Manchester United in the English Premier League. Wayne Rooney earns $18 million as the yearly salary from the club and $4 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $22 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Wayne Rooney appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such as Samsung, Harper Collins and Nike. After playing for the Manchester United for last 10 years, he was recently resigned for the team in 2013 for a contract fee of $104 million. His marketability also made him the fan favorite in terms of jersey sales.
8. Sergio Aguero – $21 million
One of the most amazing soccer stars of modern days Sergio Leonel Agüero Del Castillo or just Sergio Aguero plays for the Argentine national soccer team and also for the Manchester City in the English Premier League. Sergio Aguero earns $17 million as the yearly salary from the club and $4 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $21 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Sergio Aguero appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors that include companies such as Pepsi, Puma and Gillette. He signed an extension till the 2017 football season with the club. Puma signed an endorsement deal in 2011 with him which made him their highest paid soccer player.
9. Yaya Toure – $21 million
One of the most prolific soccer stars of modern days Gnégnéri Yaya Touré or just Yaya Touré plays for the Ivory Coast national soccer team and also for the Manchester City in the English Premier League. Yaya Touré earns $18 million as the yearly salary from the club and $3 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $21 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Yaya Touré appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major Puma. As a charitable component of his long-term deal with Puma, shoes and clothing to underprivileged in West Africa will be donated as a charitable component. He earns a total of $334,000 weekly salary after the recent contract extension with the Manchester City.
10. Fernando Torres – $20 million
One of the most prolific soccer stars of modern days Fernando José Torres Sanz or just Fernando Torres plays for the Spanish national soccer team and also for the A.C. Milan in the Italian Serie A on loan from the English club Chelsea F.C. Fernando Torres earns $17 million as the yearly salary from the club and $3 million comes from his endorsements which make a total earning of $20 million per year according to the recent year’s salary statistics. Fernando Torres appears in several ad campaigns all over the world for his major sponsors which include Adidas, Pepsi. He switched his boot sponsors to Adidas from Nike and became a brand face of the company in 2013. He was also the front face of the Adidas campaign for the recent FIFA 2014 World Cup.
Several other players are also in the list of the highest paid soccer players. For instance, the legendary Dutchman Robin Van Persie currently bags a whopping $16 million from Manchester United and another $3 million from his endorsements. On the other hand, third runner-up for the 2013 Ballon d’Or Franck Ribery draws a handsome salary of whopping $7 million from Bayern Munich, and another $1 million from endorsements.