This is the time of global economic crisis which has badly hurt the economy of almost every countrin the world to some extend. It is thought that worst days are yet to come. Despite the economic downturn, there are some European clubs who are paying a fortune to some of today’s star football (soccer) players in the world. Well, I am not saying that they don’t deserve the amount they are being paid, but I wonder how the clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan and Chelsea are paying such a big amount amid the current condition of global economy.
Anyway, Futebol Finance has recently published a list of world’s top 50 highest paid footballers of 2008-09 season. You might get shocked to know that there is no player from English premier league in the top 3, even though English Premier League is believed to be the richest league in the world. Another thing that caught my attention is that there is no player from world’s richest club Real Madrid in the top ten. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kaka jointly take the no. 1 place in the list as both the players earn same amount. There are some other cases where two players secure the same position in the list in terms of their salary. Here, I am going to give you some details about the players who secure the top ten places in the list. In fact, there are 21 players who share the top ten places in terms of their annual salary.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Country:
Club: Inter
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 27
Earning: € 9,000,000 (Annual), € 750,000 (Monthly), £ 166,000 (Weekly)
The excellent striker has been instrumental behind Inter Milan’s triumph in Serie A last season (2007-08). With his technique and tactics, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already become one of the great footballers
1. Ricardo Kaka
Country:
Club: AC Milan (
Playing Position: Forward
Age: 26
Earning: € 9,000,000 (Annual), € 750,000 (Monthly), £ 166,000 (Weekly)
The Brazilian is one of best footballers in the world at this moment. Winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year 2007 and European Footballer of the Year 2007 awards, Kaka has an uncanny ability to score against any opposition. Kaka is currently one of the two leading strikers in
2. Lionel Messi
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Winger/ Second Striker
Age: 21
Earning: € 8,400,000 (Annual), € 700,000 (Monthly), £ 156,000 (Weekly)
This Argentine super star is perhaps the best prospect of last season, even though his club
3. John Terry
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Centre Back
Age: 28
Earning: € 7,575,000 (Annual), € 632,000 (Monthly), £ 140,000 (Weekly)
John Terry shares the distinction of being the highest paid footballer of English Premier League with
3. Frank Lampard
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Midfielder
Age: 30
Earning: € 7,575,000 (Annual), € 632,000 (Monthly), £ 140,000 (Weekly)
Frank Lampard is another player who played a significant role behind
4. Thierry Henry
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Striker/ Winger
Age: 31
Earning: € 7,500,000 (Annual), € 625,000 (Monthly), £ 138,000 (Weekly)
With the record of highest Arsenal goal scorer ever, Thierry Henry moved to the Spanish giant
4. Samuel Eto’o
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 27
Earning: € 7,500,000 (Annual), € 625,000 (Monthly), £ 138,000 (Weekly)
Since joining
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Winger
Age: 24
Earning: € 6,763,000 (Annual), € 564,000 (Monthly), £ 125,000 (Weekly)
To be honest, I think, Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more than what he is being paid by Manchester United at this moment. Given the kind of performance he has been showing over the last couple of seasons, I think, Cristiano Ronaldo should have been in the top three of this list. You can not deny that Ronaldo was instrumental behind Manchester United’s double (Premier League and Champions League) last season as the
6. Ronadinho Gaucho
Country:
Club: AC Milan (
Playing Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 28
Earning: € 6,500,000 (Annual), € 542,000 (Monthly), £ 120,000 (Weekly)
The winner of two time FIFA world player of the year award, Ronadinho is not at his best at this moment, though there is no doubt about his class, talent and greatness. Just couple of seasons back, Ronadinho was the most threatening player for any opposition in the world, but now he is going through a rough patch of time. He moved to Italian giant AC Milan this season, ending a successful sting with
6. Andrei Shevchenko
Country:
Club: AC Milan (
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 32
Earning: € 6,500,000 (Annual), € 542,000 (Monthly), £ 120,000 (Weekly)
Andrei Shevchenko has already become a legendary figure of
6. Michael Ballack
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Midfielder
Age: 32
Earning: € 6,500,000 (Annual), € 542,000 (Monthly), £ 120,000 (Weekly)The captain of German national team could not show his best form at Chelsea yet since joining the club in 2006, though a spate of ankle injury must bear a large part of it. However, his record at German club Bayern Munich is the evident of his class, talent and ability as a creative midfielder. At
6. Steven Gerrard
Country:
Club: Liverpool (
Playing Position: Midfielder
Age: 28
Earning: € 6,500,000 (Annual), € 542,000 (Monthly), £ 120,000 (Weekly)
The English midfielder has become the life of
6.
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Centre Back
Age: 30
Earning: € 6,500,000 (Annual), € 542,000 (Monthly), £ 120,000 (Weekly)
Rio Ferdinand joined Manchester United from Leeds United in 2002 for a record breaking deal worth £30 million and since then, he has become an integral part of United squad and has had a huge contribution to the success of Manchester United. With Manchester United, Ferdinand won three premier league titles (2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08), and Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup title in 2008. So, I think, he deserves the amount he is being paid by Manchester United.
7. Raul Gonzalez
Country:
Club: Real
Playing Position: Striker (Second Striker)
Age: 31
Earning: € 6,400,000 (Annual), € 533,000 (Monthly), £ 118,000 (Weekly)
Raul Gonzalez has already become one of the greatest Spanish footballers of all time and a legend at Real Madrid. At 31, he is still a prolific goal scorer at Real Madrid with whom he won six La Liga titles along with 3 Champions League titles. Raul won the UEFA Club Football Award for Best Forward on three occasions (2000, 2001 and 2002) and was nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year award in 2001. From 1996 to 2006, Raul was the leading striker for
7. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Country:
Club: Real
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 32
Earning: € 6,400,000 (Annual), € 533,000 (Monthly), £ 118,000 (Weekly)
The Dutch strike did not take long time to make an immediate impression at Real Madrid since his move to the
8. Iker Casillas
Country:
Club: Real
Playing Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Earning: € 6,000,000 (Annual), € 500,000 (Monthly), £ 110,000 (Weekly)
Alongside Raul, Iker Casillas is another stock player for Real Madrid at this moment. The goalkeeper has been in revelation over the last couple of seasons and his goalkeeping was one of the reasons behind Real Madrid’s back-to-back success in La Liga over the last couple of seasons. He started at Real Madrid youth side and began representing Real Madrid senior side since 1999 and so far, he has been one of the key players at the club. To many, Iker Casillas is currently the best goalkeeper in the world. He won 4 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Casillas is also the no. 1 goalkeeper of
8. Frederic Kanoute
Country:
Club: Sevilla (
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 31
Earning: € 6,000,000 (Annual), € 500,000 (Monthly), £ 110,000 (Weekly)
Frederic Kanoute is not a very well-known name in world football and I guess, many of you even did not know about this Malian footballer before seeing this list. Well, he is currently playing at Sevilla and represents his country regularly. His form in recent years has been pretty impressive. In fact, the Malian international won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2007. With Sevilla, Frederic Kanoute won UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, and also helped Sevilla to win the UEFA Super Cup title in 2006 and Copa del Rey title in 2007. So, you should not be surprised to see his current salary at Sevilla. I think, he would have attracted many European clubs with big money offers, if he was not 31-year-old now.
8. Wayne Rooney
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Striker/ Second Striker
Age: 23
Earning: € 6,000,000 (Annual), € 500,000 (Monthly), £ 110,000 (Weekly)
There are many who already started terming the English sensation as one of the greatest Manchester Untied players. Well, I would not go that far, but there is no doubt that if Rooney can continue showing his current level of performance for another four or five seasons, he would definitely become one of the greatest footballers in the history of Manchester United. Since joining the club in 2004, he has been one of the most loyal players for the Red Devils, accepting any role he is asked to play at the United. Even sometimes, Rooney is seen playing at the defense when needed. With this creativity, talent and technique, Rooney played a big part behind Manchester United’s Premier League triumph over the last couple of seasons and was instrumental behind the Red Devils’ Champions League win last season. Actually, Rooney deserves a better salary at Manchester United.
8. Michael Owen
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Forward
Age: 29
Earning: € 6,000,000 (Annual), € 500,000 (Monthly), £ 110,000 (Weekly)
Michael Owen is one of the best strikers of his generation. Though he has not been at his best over the last few seasons, Owen is still a very talented striker who could be lethal for defense with his great speed, skill and scoring ability. In fact, Michael Owen is currently the fourth highest goalscorer in the history of
9. Fabio Cannavaro
Country:
Club: Real
Playing Position: Centre Back
Age: 35
Earning: € 5,800,000 (Annual), € 483,000 (Monthly), £ 107,000 (Weekly)
10. Robinho
Country:
Club:
Playing Position: Striker
Age: 25
Earning: € 5,680,000 (Annual), € 473,000 (Monthly), £ 105,000 (Weekly)
Robinho joined newly rich
Where does David Beckham come in?
ReplyDeleteHe'll make $6.5 Million with the LA Galaxy this year. That's about 4,660,000 Euros, which is well short on this list.
ReplyDeleteMLS Salaries listed here:
http://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html
LIONEL MESSI should be d highest paid footballer............as no doubt abt his class and he is the only footballer present ,who can be compare with greats like maradona,etc.................................................and ronaldo FUCKS.
ReplyDeleteLIONEL MESSI should be d highest paid footballer............as no doubt abt his class and he is the only footballer present ,who can be compare with greats like maradona,etc.................................................and ronaldo FUCKS.
ReplyDeletewht of beec of la gallaxy this is not right
ReplyDeletei would love to see lionel messi in the highest paid footballer in the world.Because he is the great and the best......
ReplyDeleteDavid Beckham not on list than this list is fake and Zlatan is not the highest paid
ReplyDeletePLS UPDATE THE LIST
ReplyDeletei would like to plead with the management of this website to update this list because am very interested.
ReplyDeleteI want to see the latest salaries
ReplyDeletewhere d fuck is david villa isnt he any good
ReplyDeletegreat knowledge sharing post thanks to admin
ReplyDeletersliberty.com/tag/highest-paid-footballer-weekly