Lionel Messi Argentina pSG
Lionel Messi Argentina PSG

The FIFA World Cup 2018 is just around the corner and the biggest spectacle in the footballing world is about to gather the finest talents amongst the 32 competing nations.

And before the one-month tournament starts in Russia on Thursday, Forbes has just published the list of the highest paid footballers in the world.

20. Edison Cavani:

Club: PSG

Country: Uruguay

Major sponsors: Nike, Panini

Earnings: $18 million

Salary and Bonus: $1.5 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes



19. Yaya Toure:

Club: Free Agent(previously Man City)

Country: Ivory Coast

Major Sponsors: Puma

Earnings: $19.6 million

Salar and Bonus: $17.1 million

Endorsements: $2.5 million

Going to the World Cup: No

18. Antoine Griezmann:

Club: Atletico Madrid

Country: France

Major Sponsors: Puma, Huawei

Earnings: $19.7 million

Salar and Bonus: $16.7 million

Endorsements: $3 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

17. Gerard Pique:

Club: Barcelona

Country: Spain

Major Sponsors: Nike

Earnings: $20.8 million

Salar and Bonus: $17.5 million

Endorsements: $3.3 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

16. Zlatan Ibrahimovic:

Club: LA Galaxy

Country: Sweden

Major Sponsors: Samsung, Bethard, A-Z clothing(personal brand)

Earnings: $21 million

Salar and Bonus: $15.5 million

Endorsements: $5.5 million

Going to the World Cup: No



15. Hulk:

Club: Shanghai SPIG

Country: Brazil

Major Sponsors: Mizuno

Earnings: $22 million

Salar and Bonus: $21 million

Endorsements: $1 million

Going to the World Cup: No

14. Graziano Pelle:

Club: Shanghai Luneng

Country: Italy

Major Sponsors: Nike

Earnings: $22.1 million

Salar and Bonus: $21.1 million

Endorsements: $1 million

Going to the World Cup: No

13. James Rodriguez:

Club: Bayern Munich

Country: Colombia

Major Sponsors: Adidas, Huawei, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klien

Earnings: $22.1 million

Salar and Bonus: $16.8 million

Endorsements: $5.3 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

12. Thiago Silva:

Club: PSG

Country: Brazil

Major Sponsors: Nike

Earnings: $22.4 million

Salar and Bonus: $21.4 million

Endorsements: $1 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes



11. Kylian Mbappe:

Club: PSG

Country: France

Major Sponsors: Nike

Earnings: $22.5 million

Salar and Bonus: $20 million

Endorsements: $1.5 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

10. Angel Di Maria:

Club: PSG

Country: Argentina

Major Sponsors: Adidas

Earnings: $22.6 million

Salar and Bonus: $20.6 million

Endorsements: $2 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

9. Sergio Aguero:

Club: Man City

Country: Argentina

Major Sponsors: Puma

Earnings: $23.5 million

Salar and Bonus: $17 million

Endorsements: $6.5 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

8. Wayne Rooney:

Club: Everton

Country: England

Major Sponsors: Harper Collins

Earnings: $27 million

Salar and Bonus: $22 million

Endorsements: $5 million

Going to the World Cup: No



7. Luis Suarez:

Club: Barcelona

Country: Uruguay

Major Sponsors: Adidas, PES, Gatorade

Earnings: $26.9 million

Salar and Bonus: $19.9 million

Endorsements: $7 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

6. Oscar:

Club: Shanghai SIPG

Country: Brazil

Major Sponsors: Adidas

Earnings: $27.4 million

Salar and Bonus: $25.9 million

Endorsements: $1.5 million

Going to the World Cup: No

5. Paul Pogba:

Club: Man United

Country: France

Major Sponsors: Adidas

Earnings: $29.5 million

Salar and Bonus: $25 million

Endorsements: $4.5 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

4. Gareth Bale:

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Wales

Major Sponsors: Adidas

Earnings: $34.6 million

Salar and Bonus: $28.6 million

Endorsements: $6 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes



3. Neymar:

Club: PSG

Country: Brazil

Major Sponsors: Nike, Red Bull, Beats Electronics, McDonald’s

Earnings: $90 million

Salar and Bonus: $73 million

Endorsements: $17 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

2. Cristiano Ronaldo:

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Portugal

Major Sponsors: Nike, Herbalife, Clear, American Tourister, CR7 jeans, underwear, fragrance, hotels, gyms.

Earnings: $108 million

Salar and Bonus: $61 million

Endorsements: $47 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes

1. Lionel Messi:

Club: Barcelona

Country: Argentina

Major Sponsors: Adidas, Gatorade, Lays, Pepsi, Huawei, Mastercard, Ooredoo

Earnings: $111 million

Salar and Bonus: $84 million

Endorsements: $27 million

Going to the World Cup: Yes




Note: This list has been compiled from Forbes’ article of the highest paid footballers.

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