Is Messi's contract with PSG the best of 2021?

Who would have thought a day would come when the best sporting association in the world between FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi would come to an end? Even the Argentine superstar said his only club in Europe would be Barcelona, but his contract expired at the end of last summer and despite agreeing to a new one, taking a massive wage cut the club was unable to register him due to the financial fair play policy of the league and the best player in the history of Barcelona had to move to another club. The timing of his departure to the end of the transfer window didn't allow for more clubs to show interest. PSG moved swiftly and signed him.

According to reports, his new contract at PSG will earn him $41million dollar per year, about $800,000 per week, which makes the contract the best of all the transfers made in the 2021 summer transfer window, ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, though he makes more money generally, Raphaël Varane, Romelu Lukaku and other top earners of the summer transfers. Below are the other top earners and their salary.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The 36year old Portuguese returned to his former club after spending time at Real Madrid and at Juventus. He returned for a second spell and instantly became the club's highest paid player. According to Goal, he will receive a salary of $27m per year, about $560,000 per week or about $80,000 per week. He was so willing to leave Juventus that he took a paycut of about $7m to join United. He makes more money from his Instagram account than he collects salary.

Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho was signed by Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for £73m and given a salary of $24.5m per year and about $472,500 per week. He is the second Manchester United player on the list behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Raphaël Varane

One of the biggest earners in the transfer window is Cristiano Ronaldo's current Manchester United teammate and former Real Madrid teammate Raphaël Varane. The French defender left Real Madrid to join Manchester United and had his salary upped by almost 50%. His new salary is $23.8m, about $450,000 per week. He is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea and fellow new signing Jadon Sancho in the Manchester United payroll.

Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian returned to Chelsea from Inter Milan for a club record £98m and is placed on a salary of $22.8m and a weekly wage of $438,750 per week. He is the club's highest earner ahead of N'golo Kanté and Kai Havertz.