The 2014 World Cup is over. Sad face. It was a great tournament and I firmly believe that the best team start to finish won. For those football (soccer to Americans) fans who are depressed they have to wait another four years for the 2018 World Cup, we’ll do our best to ease your pain. The world’s most popular sport also includes some of the world’s wealthiest athletes. Between club contracts and endorsements football players make some of the best money in professional sports. In 2014, here are the top paid players… Check them out….
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
15.) Luis Suarez – FC Barcelona
Before being sold to Barcelona this past week, the infamous Luis Suarez was making a good living at Liverpool. He was sold for $80 million-plus so you can be sure his contract is going to shoot him up the list, but right now he’s a steady $11 million a year. He also makes an additional $4 million in endorsements. What can we say, the biter isn’t marketable, but he’s one incredible talent. Probably top 5 in the world.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
14.) David Silva – Manchester City
The Spanish international is one of many super-talented footballers on City and he’s also one of the more wealthy in the world. He signed a 5-year contract in 2012 that brings him $15 million annually. He’s also sponsored by Adidas which gives him a cool million each year. Silva is just quietly a very solid, precise talent on the pitch.
Image via Manchester City FC
13.) Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
Stevie G may have made his final appearance at a World Cup this summer, but you’ll see him in the starting XI for the Reds for what seems like an indefinite amount of time. He’s been extended in 2014-2015 and there are already talks for the following year. He figured to make about $13 million from his football exploits, and also another $4 million from endorsements including Adidas and Mars.
Photo by Liverpool FC via Getty Images
12.) Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The Wizard of Munich was a forgotten man at the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t making money. Ribery is a great footballer that throws his name in the Balon d’Or voting. Unfortunately, his checkered past makes him pretty tough to market. He has a minor deal with Nike for $1 million and a healthy contract with Munich for $17 million.
11.) Robin van Persie – Manchester United
RvP had one of the goals of the 2014 World Cup then turned out to be completely toothless after the group stage. He was ineffective enough that a $16 million salaried player often gave way to far less late in matches. On top of van Persie’s $16 million from Man U., he’s raking in an estimated $3 million from Adidas and Pepsi.
Photo by PepsiCo via Getty Images
10.) Fernando Torres – Chelsea
No longer El Nino, no longer a game-changer. Torres might be the highest paid player/bust on this entire list. He net a couple goals for the Blues here and there, was pretty pointless at the World Cup, but still was getting paid. He’s still under contract (almost guaranteed to be moved SOON) at a $17 million clip per year and another $3 million from Pepsi and Adidas. Expect him to be rocking a different kit in the 2014-2015 season.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Pepsi
9.) Yaya Toure – Manchester City
For my money Toure was the MVP of the 2013-2014 EPL season for Manchester City. Shockingly, he was relatively ineffective for the Elephants at the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean he’s not one of the most dominant midfielders in the game today. His contract surely supports that – $18 million a year from City until 2017 and $3 million from Puma. He’s earning his paycheck.
8.) Sergio Aguero – Manchester City
That makes the third player from City on this list and we’re only 7 deep. Aguero suffered from injury at the World Cup and was largely ineffective. Regardless, Toure may be the City anchor, but Aguero is the flash and he has earned his $17 million paycheck at City and then some. He’s raking in $4 million a year from Puma, Gillette and Pepsi that puts him on the same level as teammate Toure.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
7.) Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
Rooney was the subject of transfer rumors prior to the 2013-2014 season, but ended up staying at Old Trafford. With a four-year extension Rooney is making $18 million with a chance to make more. He’s also the face of the club and has a lucrative endorsement portfolio worth more than $4 million. Rooney had a great season for United, but didn’t get much support. Let’s see how things play out next season.
Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
6.) Gareth Bale – Real Madrid
Bale put together an incredible 2012-2013 season at Tottenham that got him paid. He joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a record-transfer. Bale features to make $15 million annually plus $9 million in endorsements. When Bale is healthy he’s almost unstoppable. He’s blessed with a unique blend of speed and power, and he’s also cashing in on his marketability.
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
5.) Radamel Falcao – AS Monaco
Falcao is a story of “if only”… He’s a prolific scorer and one wonders if Colombia would have had a different fate if he was healthy for the 2014 World Cup. Falcao parlayed an incredible campaign with Atletico Madrid into a $23 million annual salary at Monaco. He’s also raking in $3 million in endorsements for Puma, Gillette and Samsung. Keep your eye on Falcao he could be joining Real Madrid shortly.
Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
4.) Neymar Jr. – Barcelona
Neymar suffered a devastating injury at the World Cup, but fortunately for Barcelona fans he’ll be ready to rock this upcoming season. Some would say he had a mediocre first season in Spain, but there are two things that aren’t mediocre – 1.) his talent and 2.) his earnings – Neymar makes $12 million in salary, HOWEVER he brings in a splendid $16 million from Nike, Panasonic and more.
Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images
3.) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Paris Saint-Germain
The best player that wasn’t at the World Cup might be the most prolific scorer in the world. Ibra has scored some of the most-flashy goals in the past several years. Ibra rakes in a whopping $30 million from PSG and an additional $4 million from Nike and Volvo. The guy is just a brilliant scorer and the number one reason PSG owns Ligue 1.
Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
2.) Lionel Messi – Barcelona
When you’re talking about the world’s best players you’re talking about Lionel Messi and the guy below. Much of 2013-2014 I would say the guy below was in control because of Messi’s injury riddled year. However, Messi has reminded us that he’s one of the greatest players we’ll ever see at this year’s World Cup. One of the greatest players we’ll ever see makes a cool $42 million from Barcelona and another $23 from an aggressively powerful marketing portfolio that includes Adidas and Pepsi.
Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images
1.) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
Ronaldo wasn’t 100% healthy at the World Cup and it showed. The 2013-2014 season was a different story. There was no doubt that Ronaldo was the best player in the world for club and country. He got payed as the best player in the world too – $49 million from Real Madrid and an additional $24 million from Nike, Samsung and a dozen more. This dude gets paid – and he earns most of it.
Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
