Top Salaried Footballers

                                  With an estimated 250 million players active in over 200 countries, soccer is considered the world's most popular sport. The game has loyal fanbase on a national level and at the same time die hard fans on club level. The popularity of the game is to such extent that the video game's launch of FIFA 23 has seen the game being played by around 10.3 million users on various platforms, who have contributed to nearly 1.7 billion games across 200+ nations.

                                       The game of soccer is a major investment venture for the wealthy and at the same time is a worthy entertainment for the fans. The player transfers, the manager hiring, the new training ground, merchandise, antics off the field - all these are enough to make top news - apart from the obvious matches, goals, assists and championships. Soccer's popularity is second to none and when you are amongst one of the best in the world at this massively engrossed game - the top clubs come chasing you. The salaried purse is bound to get heavy. So today looking at the list of the highest paid footballers of 2022.

#10 Kevin De Bruyne

Nationality: Belgium

Position: Midfielder

Club: Manchester City

Salary: $29 million

Ballon d'Or 3rd place: 2022

IFFHS UEFA Team of the Decade: 2011–2020

IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2020-2021

UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season: 2019-2020

                                       

                                        De Bruyne plays for the Belgium national team. He plays as a midfielder and is often considered as a complete footballer by reviewers.  De Bruyne began his senior career with Genk – the club in his hometown of Drongen. Du Bruyne shifted to Chelsea in 2012 and left Chelsea for Werder Bremen in 2014. German club Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for 18 million pounds in 2014. In 2015. The same year Du Bruyne was signed by Manchester City for a six year contract for a whopping 55 million pounds making him the second most expensive transfer in British football history. 

#9 Andres Iniesta

Nationality: Spain

Position: Midfielder

Club: Vissel Kobbe

Salary: $30 million

Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020

J.League Best XI: 2019, 2021

Golden Foot: 2014

                                 Andres Iniesta plays as a midfielder for Vissel Kobbe. Iniesta has been synonymous with the club FC Barcelona as he has spent most of his playing career in the club starting all the way from the tender age of 12 as a kid.  Iniesta comes from humble background from a small village in Albacete. Iniesta has also captained Barcelona in their youth teams and three seasons for the club in La Liga.  He was part of the Spanish team which won the world cup. Despite signing a lifetime contract with Barcelona, Iniesta opted to leave the club in 2018. Iniesta joined the club Vissel Kobbe in 2018 in J1 league of Japan.

#8 Eden Hazard 

Nationality: Belgium
Position: Midfielder/Winger
Club: Real Madrid
Salary: $31 million

IFFHS All Time Belgium XI
IFFHS Men's World Team: 2018
Belgian Sportsman of the year: 2018
Belgium Player of the Year: 2017, 2018, 2019

                                         Eden Hazard is an attacking midfielder/ winger and is the captain of Belgian national team. Hazard comes from a family of footballers and took up football with the club Royal Stade Brainois in his hometown of Braine-le-Comte. Starting out with the French club Lille for three-year term. Hazard joined the English giants Chelsea in 2012 showing his skills and winning Chelsea’s Player of the year twice. In 2019 Hazard was bought by Real Madrid for a contract extending till 2024 for a reported signing amount of 100 million Euros (the most expensive after Gareth Bale). Hazard has also led his national side to their best World cup finish (3^rd) in 2018 FIFA world cup.

#7 Robert Lewandowski

Nationality: Poland

Position: Striker
Club: FC Barcelona
Salary: $35 million

Ballon d'Or Striker of the Year: 2021/2022
European Golden Shoe: 2020–2021/ 2021–2022
The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2020/ 2021
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2020

                             The captain of the Polish national team, Robert Lewandowski plays as a striker in FC Barcelona. Lewandowski is hailed for finishing and technique placing him at par with the modern-day greats of the game. Lewandowski signed in with the Polish club Lech Poznan in 2008. Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund signed him in 2010 for a four-year contract. Lewandowski was the league’s top goal scorer in 2013. In January of 2014 Lewandowski created news when he went on to sign the contract with arch rivals of his present club in Bayern Munich, where he was in his prime best and got consecutive golden boots. In 2022, Lewandowski signed with La Liga giants FC Barcelona for an amount of 45 million Euros for a four-year contract.

#6 Erling Haaland

Nationality: Norway

Position: Striker
Club: Manchester City
Salary: $39 million

UEFA Nations League top scorer: 2020–2021
UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2020–2021
UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season: 2020–2021
Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year: 2020

                            The Norwegian Erling Haaland Is the new sensation in soccer world. Haaland started playing at the age of five in his hometown. In 2017 Norwegian club Molde signed Haaland at the age of 16. The following year Haaland proved his mettle by scoring 4 goals in the opening 20 minutes of a game against Brann. In 2018 Haaland went on to play for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. Haaland joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund for a four- and half-year contract. In 2022 Haaland signed with the Premier league giants Manchester City and was later voted Premier League Player of the month in August.  Haaland is the only player in Premier League to score hat-trick in three back-to-back games. He has been part of the Norway national team from 2019.

#5 Mohamed Salah

Nationality: Egypt

Position: Forward

Club: Liverpool

Salary: $53 million

BBC Goal of the Season: 2021–2022

Golden Foot: 2021

Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: 2021

Fans' Footballer of the Year award: 2020, 2021

                                  Mohamed Salah or affectionately called “Mo Salah” by fans, is an Egyptian professional footballer. Salah started his soccer journey at the age of 14 playing for his local youth teams and used to travel 3 hours from home to train. Salah started his professional journey in 2010 by playing Egyptian Premier League.  After the midway cancellation of the league Salah joined Swiss club Basel in 2013.  Chelsea signed Mo Salah in 2014 making him the first player from Egypt to play for the club. In 2015 after playing few games in Chelsea, Salah was transferred to Italian club Florentina. Salah was transferred to Roma and was later signed a long-term contract with Premier League club Liverpool in 2017 where Salah came into his own and tasted massive success. Salah won his third golden boot and Playmaker of the season in 2022.

#4 Neymar Jr

Nationality: Brazil

Position: Forward

Club: Paris St Germain

Salary: $87 million

Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2021

IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade: 2011–2020

La Liga Best World Player: 2014–2015

FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 2014

                               Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, popularly known as Neymar is a celebrated as one of the most prolific goal scorer and playmaker in this world. Neymar has 100 goals to his names playing for three clubs in club soccer arena. Neymar started with the Brazilian futsal and got into active play and was absorbed in the youth academy for Brazilian club Santos in 2003. Neymar was one of the major contributors for his club reaching the club world cup finals where they were pitted against FC Barcelona.  In 2013 Neymar was signed up for Barcelona. Along with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, Neymar formed the most prominent of forward attacks in club football. In 2017 Neymar was bought by French club giants  Paris St Germain for a record fee of 222 million Euros.

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Nationality: Portugal

Position: Forward
Club: Manchester United
Salary: $100 million

The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement: 2021
Capocannoniere: 2020–2021
Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
FIFA Ballon d'Or/Ballon d'Or: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

                                        The name Cristiano Ronaldo is hugely celebrated in the entire world. Also know in the world as CR7- Ronaldo is sportsman par excellence and an example of hard work and dedication of highest degree. Ronaldo is the most sought-after football player in the world. Ronaldo has 489 million Instagram followers and an entire net worth of $500 million. At 16 years Ronaldo started playing professionally for the club Sporting where he was picked up in 2003 by Manchester United where he made himself into a global icon. Moving on to Real Madrid in 2009-2010 season Ronaldo achieved great success in the Spanish La Liga becoming the club’s highest goal scorer in 2017. In 2018 Ronaldo moved to Juventus for a record transfer fee of 100 million Euros.  In 2021 wherein many fans call a full circle Ronaldo joined his former club Manchester United. Ronaldo is the captain of Portuguese national team.

#2 Lionel Messi

Nationality: Argentina

Position: Forward
Club: Paris St Germain
Salary: $110 million

Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020
European Golden Shoe: 2009–2010, 2011–2012, 2012–2013, 2016–2017, 2017–2018, 2018–2019

The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2019

                                    Lionel Messi – often considered a magician on the playing field in soccer played for Barcelona for most part of his career.  The entire modern soccer era is divided in the Messi-Ronaldo split. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has formulated over the years when both were making a name for themselves and showing the world their superhuman skills. Messi is generally considered exceptionally talented in the game of soccer. Messi is the captain of Argentina national team. Messi was part of Barcelona’s youth development program and gradually progressed to the senior team aged 18. Post two mediocre seasons Messi blasted onto the scene and continued to dominate the league before leaving for Paris St Germain in 2021. Messi is a global icon much like Ronaldo and has been the recipient of a record seven Ballon d’Or. 

#1 Kylian Mbappe

Nationality: France

Position: Forward
Club: Paris St Germain
Salary: $128 million

Ligue 1 Top Goal scorer: 2018–2019, 2019–2020, 2020–2021, 2021–2022
UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot: 2021

Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2021

                          Kylian Mbappe is considered by many as the new age great and is recognized worldwide for his speed, dribbling skills and finishes. Mbappe started his career with Monaco based club Monaco Football club. He was the club’s youngest player at age 16 in 2016, Mbappe was signed on by French club Paris St Germain in 2017 and showed his greatness by earning the Player of the year award in 2019. Mbappe’s skills are at an all time high and was the top goal scorer for consecutive years. Mbappe was selected to represent the French national team in 2018. Mbappe has won numerous awards on team and individual basis.  

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