The 10 Richest Soccer Players of All-Time

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Some call it soccer, others call it football. Whatever you call it, it’s important that you understand it’s the single most popular sport across the world. Perhaps in our little corner of the world soccer seems like something that comes on after NCAA football and the NFL, baseball and even basketball. However, it’s still the most popular sport in the world. For that reason, it’s also one of the highest paying sports in the world.  Read on to find out which 10 soccer stars are the richest in the world.

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Pele

Pele – $100 Million

He’s no longer playing the game, but this one-time Brazilian soccer star is one of the most famous in all of history. He’s also one of the wealthiest. His successful career lasted many years and earned him a lot of money. Part of his money came from endorsements, as does a portion of the net worth of many soccer stars and other professional athletes that have household names and recognizable faces. However, even if Pele didn’t have endorsements, he’d still be one of the richest soccer players of all time thanks to his sheer talent.

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Lahm

Philipp Lahm — $100 Million

He’s only 30-years-old and he’s one of the richest soccer players in the world. He was born in 1983 and began playing soccer in his native Germany. He plays for the German national team as a full back and defensive midfielder as well as for the Bayern Munich. He is so good at what he does that he was chosen as the captain of both teams as well as a player on the World Cup teams in 2010 and 2006. He’s a little bit smaller than most players, which is what earned him the nickname the Magic Dwarf as he stands under 6 feet.

hazard

Eden Hazard — $100 Million

At only 23 years of age, this Belgian soccer star is so good at the game he’s one of the wealthiest soccer players of all time. He’s got a net worth of more than $100 million to date and it looks like he will only continue to amass his fortune as time goes on. His team is Chelsea in the Premier League, but he also plays for the Belgian national team. He played for years on under 21-teams, finally making it into the big leagues upon turning 21 and impressing the right people with his skills and abilities on the field.

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rooney

Wayne Rooney — $125 Million

When he was a child, Wayne Rooney not only played football for the Liverpool Schoolboys, he also held the record for the most goals made in one season, which was an astounding 72. While there have been some who’ve surpassed his goals since, he’s still the player who was known for being an outstanding child athlete. Today, the British soccer star is worth more than $125 million. It’s said he earns more than $26 million per year for playing football and a lot more through his many endorsements, which he’s been receiving for years given his incredible talent and popularity.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic — $140 Million

He hails from Sweden and is one of the most famous and wealthiest soccer players of all time. By the time he was only six, he was already playing soccer with several different leagues. Throughout his teenage years, however, he spent a great deal of time wondering if he should continue the game. He actually considered quitting and working at the local docks. Thank goodness he didn’t, because while we don’t know what would have happened if he quit soccer, we do know it wouldn’t be making it onto this list as one of the richest soccer players in the history of the game.

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Ronaldo — $150 Million

His nickname is and was the Phenomenon. He’s retired now, but his long career on the field earned him a spot close to the top of the list of wealthiest soccer players of all time. He’s such a good player and such a crowd favorite that he doesn’t even go by his last name and hasn’t since virtually the beginning of his soccer career. This famous Brazilian player has earned a net worth of more than $150 million that he will certainly enjoy during his retirement. He’s also earned the reputation as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

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messi

Lionel Messi — $180 Million

This Argentinian soccer player has the highest annual salary of any soccer player in the world. He is paid more than $44 million per year just to play. He has several different endorsements that pay him another $30+ million per year just for smiling and showing off his famous face.  When he made his professional debut, he was the third youngest player ever to play for the Barcelona team and he went down in history as the youngest soccer player ever to score for Barcelona. That title is no longer his, but it will remain something he’s famous for.

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Dave Whelan — $210 Million

Dave Whelan’s soccer career ended a long long time ago.  Today he’s almost 80-years-old, but he’s still known as one of the most famous players ever.  Is it all because of his skills or his business sense?   After the English born player left the field, he continued to amass a fortune after opening Whelan’s Discount Stores which is a series of supermarkets. He also purchased a store called JJB. It’s a sports store that also happens to be the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom. This has helped him become the third wealthiest soccer star of all time.

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cristiano ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo — $250 Million

He’s from Portugal and he’s good at what he does. So good, in fact, that he’s the second wealthiest soccer star ever. Each year he earns $40 million from his career in soccer and another $30 from his endorsements. Unlike many of the stars on this list, Ronaldo did not begin playing soccer until he was a bit older. He was eight, which is considered pretty old in comparison to some of the other players on this list. However, his late start in the game did not detract from his sheer talent, which is why he’s the second wealthiest soccer star to date.

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David Beckham

David Beckham — $350 Million

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the wealthiest soccer star of all time is also the most recognizable, most-loved, and best-looking. David Beckham is one hot commodity both on and off the field. He’s not only the richest soccer star in history, he’s also one of the richest athletes in the world across any sport. His annual salary reached $50 million per year and his endorsements bring in another $40+ million per year. He is British and he’s married to another famous Brit, whom you might recognize from her days as Posh Spice in the hit group the Spice Girls.

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Written by Tiffany Raiford

Tiffany Raiford is a lifelong Floridian, wife to my high school sweetheart and mother of four littles (two girls and boy/girl twins...no, they are not identical and yes, I'm sure). My kids love to whine, so I love to wine. My loves include nap time, bed time, date night, travel and evenings and weekends when my husband is home because he handles all diaper changes.