Transfer fees and salaries are spiraling out of control in the world of soccer. Some of the game's finest players have fortunes that they could only imagine in their younger years.
The top 5 paid soccer players worldwide are shown below. Unless otherwise noted, all numbers are before taxes and do not account for bonuses, additional costs, or the many sponsorship arrangements that players may have, some of which may suddenly multiply their yearly revenue.
More international soccer news:
Cristiano Ronaldo exploded against United for a decision that affects his salary
Galtier revealed the reason for substituting Leo Messi against Monaco
5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) – £400,000 per week
De Bruyne has extended his contract with City, catapulting him to the top of the Premier League salary tables.
He makes more money than his teammate Jack Grealish, who signed a contract last summer worth over £300,000 per week.
The slick Belgian renewed his contract with City until 2025, securing him for the height of his career. This was a huge comfort for both City supporters and Pep Guardiola.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) – £515,000 per week
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United a year ago on a two-year deal that automatically made him the best paid player in the team. A decision that Man United seem to be regretting a year later.
3. Neymar (PSG) – £606,000 per week
The face of Brazilian soccer, Neymar, boosted his bank account in 2017 by agreeing to a world-record £200 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG.
Before bonuses, the French club, which has put together a team of superstars in an effort to win the coveted Champions League trophy, pays him more than £30 million annually.
He earns substantially less money from sponsors than the next two persons on the list, which may be a symptom of his controversial personality.
2. Lionel Messi (PSG) – £960,000 per week
In addition to having some of the highest salaries in the world, Messi is regarded by many as the best player to have ever played.
With his transfer to PSG, the Argentine superstar undoubtedly received a large payday. He was prepared to sign a contract with Barcelona worth almost £1.1 million per week before taxes but was forced to quit the team he spent his whole life at when the Spanish side was unable to finalize the agreement owing to La Liga financial regulations.
Messi just agreed to a contract with an annual basic wage after taxes of £25 million. This translates to almost £50 million annually before taxes.
Messi will be receiving a salary that is well beyond the million-per-week mark once incentives, signing-on fees, and appearance fees are paid, and that's before outside sponsorships.
His earnings from endorsements and partnerships with companies like Pepsi and Adidas total an additional £25 million.
1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) – £1,600,000 per week
The 22-year-old has already scored more than 100 goals for PSG, and his permanent move from Monaco to PSG in 2018 is still the second-most costly in history.
He established himself as one of the top players in the world by scoring four goals as France won the 2018 World Cup, but he struggled at the postponed Euro 2020 after missing a crucial penalty that would have eliminated France.
Mbappe just inked the richest football deal in history, bringing home a mind-boggling £1.6 million a week.
