Classification of highest paid football players in the world

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, of Real Madrid (La Liga), has become the highest-paid footballer in the world after having extended his three-year contract with the Spanish club, on the 15/09/2013. The Portuguese will receive an estimated € 17m salary per season until the end of the 2017/18 fiscal year.

Cristiano Ronaldo is paid one million euros more than the Argentinian striker of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi (€16m per season). Both players receive, in addition to their salary, equivalent business income (sponsorship contracts, image rights), estimated at €15.8m in 2012.

14 out of the 15 highest paid footballers are playing in Spain, England or France. Only the Argentinian player Dario Conca (€10.6m per season) plays outside Europe, in Guangzhou Evergrande (China). There is no Bundesliga player in the classification, not even the French player Franck Ribery, the highest paid player in the Bundesliga.

Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1) have three players from this ranking: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (third, €14m), Thiago Silva (8^th, €11m) and Edinson Cavani (11^th tie, €10m). AS Monaco…