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I came across the following Top 50 salaries for footballers around the world (as at January 31st 2009) while browsing for something related. Although salaries are changing all the time ( I suspect Beckham’s new deal at AC Milan is probably right up there now), it’s very interesting. For example, I had no idea John Terry (£140,000) earns more a week than Ronaldo (£125,000) and was surprised to see Arshavin (£90,000) of Arsenal on the list bearing in mind their strict salary policy. No sign of Cesc on the list either.
Interestingly, Arshavin gets paid exactly the same weekly salary as Paul Scholes & Dimitar Berbatov (both Man Utd) and the two Chelsea strikers, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. Interesting because I would put them all roughly on the same plain in terms of class. And Michael Owen earns more than Robinho too! Now admittedly Robinho is a bit of a Homer, but stilll. Hmmm.
Less surprising to see a lot of Barcelona & Real Madrid players there – half of each team in fact – and probably also not surprising to see La Liga and the English Premiership dominating the list. Although I noted that Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A is top of the pile with close neighbour Kaka (AC Milan) and a few players from French side Lyon too.
Anyway, below is the full list (Source: Futebol Finance)….the top 50 highest paid footballers in the world. Try not to spill your beer whan you read it!
NB: If you live in the UK, you can use the TVSmash TV Listings site to receive advance email alerts whenever your favourite football team is on the telly!
Related: Top 25 Most Expensive Transfers Ever!
What one should also remember is that player bonuses average between 65% and 100% of a players salary, so what you see above is probably only about half what these players are paid. Most get appearance money for every game, win bonuses, goal bonuses for strikers, “positional” bonuses depending on where their team ends up in the league and then Cup and competition bonuses [Source: BBC].
Oh and lest one forgets, there is sponsorship, advertising, image rights, personal appearances, endorsements and one of two other things on top! The trade off of course is that they can’t lead “normal” lives apparently. Tough call!
Chris Taylor Says:
April 6th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Good article, does make me feel a little sick 
Miguel Says:
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
What happens is that John Terry is an actual and somehow more young player and on the other hand Ronaldo, is too old and he’s not like beofre, he doesn’t have the magic he had a few years ago, but they still pay him that amount, for the only fact that he is Ronaldo…