In 2021, some of the biggest transfers in football history took place. Cristiano Ronaldo reunited with Manchester United, and Messi got out of FC Barcelona and joined Neymar and Mbappé in PSG.
Furthermore, these team changes (and more) brought saw spectacular milestones reached in the area of footballers’ salaries. We decided to have a look at some of these achievements by listing the highest football salaries of 2021.
Who are the Highest-Paid Footballers Worldwide in 2021?
- Cristiano Ronaldo – €108.2 Million
- Lionel Messi – €95 Million
- Neymar Jr – €82.3 Million
- Kylian Mbappé – €37.2 Million
- Mohamed Salah – €35.4 Million
- Andreas Iniesta – €30.31 Million
- Robert Lewandowski – €30.28 Million
- Paul Pogba – €29.4 Million
- Gareth Bale – €27.7 Million
- Eden Hazard – €25 Million
10. Eden Hazard
- Age: 30
- Country: Belgium
- Team: Real Madrid
When Eden Hazard moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2019, the Spanish giants paid Chelsea €115 million and signed Hazard to a five-year contract. The deal sees the player earn close to €25 million a year.
However, the Belgian star has had a rough time in the last few months. He missed 59 games in his first two seasons with Madrid.
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9. Gareth Bale
- Age: 32
- Country: United Kingdom
- Team: Real Madrid
After some ups and downs in his career related to disagreements with Real Madrid’s manager, Zinedine Zidane, Gareth Bale made his way to this list of highest-paid football players.
After being loaned to Tottenham Hotspur, Bale is back in Real Madrid for his last contracted season and under a new manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
The Welsh player is one of the highest-paid footballers in Real Madrid with a salary of €22.5 million and an endorsement deal with Adidas worth €5.2 million.
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8. Paul Pogba
- Age: 28
- Country: France
- Team: Manchester United
Paul Pogba, one of the Red Devils’ biggest stars, is number 8 on this list. Pogba is one of the better-paid football players of Manchester United, right next to Cristiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper, David Dea Gea.
The talented 28-year-old midfielder earns a yearly salary of €23.3 million which is topped with €6.1 million in endorsement revenue.
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7. Robert Lewandowski
- Age: 33
- Country: Poland
- Team: Bayern Munich
Considered one of the best strikers of football history, Robert Lewandowski is also one of the highest-paid football players. The Polish star of the German Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich, is trying to be the best football player in the world. Will he make it?
We don’t know, but he sure has a salary to be beaten: €23.38 million. Let’s not forget his endorsements earnings from Nike, Huawei, and H&S which have a value of €6.9 million. All of this makes Lewandowski the 6th highest-paid football player of 2021.
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6. Andrés Iniesta
- Age: 37
- Country: Spain
- Team: Vissel Kobe
The former FC Barcelona midfielder, Andres Iniesta, is currently one of the highest-paid footballers. Even though he is the oldest football player on this list, he still managed to place 7th.
Moving to Japan came with a big salary increase. Iniesta is now earning €26.85 million, which is topped off with endorsement deals with Asics and Mikakus worth €3.46 million a year. He has been playing for the Vissel Kobe for the last four years and extended his contract for another two years on his 37th birthday.
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5. Mohamed Salah
- Age: 29
- Country: Egypt
- Team: Liverpool FC
The Egyptian striker, currently playing for Liverpool, is a real gem. In 2021, he managed to score his 100th Premier League goal and, with still two years of contract with the Reds, who knows what he will accomplish next.
Salah is also an inspiration for the Muslim community and athletes who have the same dream. According to an academic study, Salah’s inclusion in Liverpool’s team brought a decrease of 16% of hate crimes in the city.
Furthermore, his salary is also something to be proud of. Salah is currently earning €21.6 million He also has endorsements totalling to the value of €13.8 million, including Adidas, Pepsi, and ExxonMobil.
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4. Kylian Mbappé
- Age: 22
- Country: France
- Team: Paris Saint-Germain
The youngest player on this list and star of the French team, Paris Saint-Germain, occupies number four on this list. That’s right, we are referring to Kylian Mbappé. Some say that he is the most talented young player in football currently.
We can’t really say if that is true or not, but he sure earns the salary of one! The young French football player earns €24.2 million. This salary is topped with €13 million worth of endorsements. The face of FIFA 2022 is sponsored by Electronic Arts, Hublot, and nonetheless Nike!
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3. Neymar Jr
- Age: 29
- Country: Brazil
- Team: Paris Saint-Germain
The former star of MSN, Neymar Jr decided to take a different path in 2017 when he joined Paris Saint-Germain and left FC Barcelona.
In May 2021, Neymar extended his contract with the French team for an additional four years. After some issues with Nike, related to alleged sexual assault, the Brazilian player signed a contract with Puma.
The super striker, well-known for being one of the most expensive transfers in football history, earns a salary of €65 million and a pay check worth €17.3 million of endorsements, sponsored by Epic Games, Red Bull, Qatar Airways, and Triller.
He is also the third most followed football player on social media, which resulted in a partnership with Triller.
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2. Lionel Messi
- Age: 34
- Country: Argentina
- Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi, a former FC Barcelona player, decided to reunite with his former teammate Neymar Jr, and form a potentially feared attacking trio along with Kylian Mbappé, also referred to in this list.
Messi, who signed a contract with PSG this year, left Barcelona after 26 years of glory. Although PSG is one of the best teams in the world, Messi saw his salary being cut off, which lost him the position of the highest-paid football player.
Despite a rocky beginning with the French team, with Messi failing a score in his first three appearances, the Argentinian star is currently receiving a salary worth €65 million, topped with €30 million worth of endorsements. He is being sponsored by different companies like Adidas, Pepsi, Budweiser, and Jacobs & Co.
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1. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Age: 36
- Country: Portugal
- Team: Manchester United
At the top of the highest-paid footballers in the Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo. After returning to the Red Devils, Ronaldo topped Lionel Messi and became the best-paid football player of 2021.
This year has been good for Cristiano. In September, he set a record as the greatest goal scorer of all-time in international football, with his 110th goal being scored in the World Cup qualifying against Ireland.
His “coming home” made him worth €60.6 million salary, plus €47.6 million worth of endorsements, sponsored by Nike, Clear, Herbalife, and many others.
Upon his return home, Cristiano already scored four goals. The Portuguese football player is a man of many talents, also having his brand of underwear, eyewear, gyms, perfumes, and hotels.
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