Yet again, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar dominate the world of football. Last season marked the end of an era of football, soccer for half of the world. For the first time in a decade, not a single match played between the two of the greatest players, in the history of football, not played a single match against each other. The most bitter rivalry between the most valuable soccer club comes to an end in this decade when Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join the Italian football club Juventus. Also for the first time over a decade nor Lionel Messi neither Ronaldo won the Fifa player of the year award and Ballon d’Or. So here’s the list of highest-paid footballers at the end of the decade.
1.LIONEL MESSI
One of the most famous athletes in the world, Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987. Lionel Messi is a Professional Footballer who plays for Spanish Football Club Barcelona(FC Barcelona) and the Argentina National Team as a forward. Messi has been sponsored by one of the best sportswear company Adidas since 2006. He is leading the list of brand endorsers with $35 million. Since is competitive debut in 2004, he has played 466 in which he scored 432 goals and is leading goals scorer in La Liga. Lionel Messi’s salary is $92 million which makes him the highest-paid athlete in the world with $127 million. Messi also sponsored by Gatorade, Huawei, Mastercard, Pepsi.
2.CRISTIANO RONALDO
Recently Ronaldo became the first person to gain more than 400M followers on social media. Arguably Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest strikers in the history of Football. A Portuguese International is the highest goal scorer for an international team. Ronaldo has been played for Sporting CP, before signing for Manchester United. Ronaldo was then the most expensive football transfer when signed by Real Madrid in a transfer worth EUR 80 million. Currently, he is playing for the Italian Football club Juventus with a salary of $65 million. Cristiano Ronaldo sponsored by one of the best and biggest sportswear companies in the world Nike. He is the record brand endorser with EUR 162 million. In 2018, Ronaldo signed for Juventus in an initial transfer worth EUR 88 million. Now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the second-highest-paid Athletes int he World with $109 million with a salary of $65 million. Within 24 hours of release, Juventus sold 520,000 Ronaldo jerseys worth over $60 million.
3.NEYMAR
Neymar is a skillful Brazilian footballer currently playing for the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as forward. Neymar is also in the list of one of the best footballers in the World. Neymar makes his Professional debut at the age of 17 at Santos. Then Neymar moves to FC Barcelona, as a part of attacking trio with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, he won lots of trophies. Neymar transferred from the Football Club Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in a move worth $350 million, making him the most expensive player. He is the second popular athlete on social media with more than 200 million followers. Neymar makes $3o million from the sponsors Nike, Fifa and etc. His salary is $75 million which makes his third highest-paid athlete in the world with $105 million.
4.PAUL POGBA
A Franch international born on March 15, 1993 plays for premier league club Manchester united as a central midfielder, but he also can play as attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, and playmaker. World cup winning star makes his Senior debut at Manchester united but because of lack of game time, he joined Italian club Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 where it won four consecutive league titles. During his time in Juventus Pogba grown himself into promising young playmaker in the world. Pogba return to Manchester united in 2016 for record transfer fee paid by the English club of €105 million (£89.3 million). Paul Pogba has sponsorship deals with one of the best sportswear company Adidas. Well, Pogba is the fourth highest-paid footballer in the world with a salary of $29 million and an endorsement of $4 million.
5.ANDRES INIESTA
The passing magician, genius and whatever you want to call this genius. The Spanish international played for the Spain football club FC Barcelona at the central midfield position for a very long time. Andres Iniesta admired by whole Spanish fan because of the goal he scored which changed Spanish history. Andres currently playing for the japan club Vissel Koba moved from the FC Barcelona in 2018. Iniesta signed the sponsorship deal with Japanese footwear company Asics after He ended the sponsorship with Nike. Iniesta makes $2.5 million through endorsements and has a salary of $30 million. Iniesta is the fifth highest-paid footballer in the world with $32.5 million.
