Top 20 Richest Footballers in the World 2022

Today football is considered to be the most famous sport on the planet, and with intense worldwide popularity, comes plenty of money.

This article gives a detailed look at which players make the most money and where their wealth comes from. 

Here are the top 10 richest footballers in the world today.

20. Karim Benzema Net Worth – $70 Million

Benzema has been one of the most lethal strikers on the planet, scoring over 300 goals for France and France National team.

Benzema's current contract will keep him at Bernabeu until 2023. His weekly wage is believed to be a mouthwatering £294,000.

He also boasts endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Hyundai and Bwin. All these supplement his annual earnings alongside his business investments. 

His net worth in 2022 is approximately $70 million.

19. David DeGea Net Worth – $75 Million

De Gea has been world’s best paid goalkeeper for a while now, thanks to superb performances during his early years at Old Trafford.

The Manchester united number one contract’s runs until 2023 and is paid £375,000 per week.

18. Luka Modric Net Worth – $75 Million

Having evolved into one of the finest midfielders of the last decade, Luka Modric won the 2018 Balon D’or after stellar performances at the 2018 World Cup and with Real Madrid.

The Croatian has been a joy to watch since his days at Spurs and now Real Madrid. The midfield maestro is one of the best-paid footballers in the world and earns $250,000 weekly at Real Madrid. His net worth in 2022 is $75 million.

17. Gerard Pique Net Worth – $80 Million

For over a decade, Gerard Pique, has been the heart of FC Barcelona defence.

Gerard Piqué extended his contract until 20 June 2024 in 2020 and his buy-out clause stands at 500 million euros.

Due to financial struggles Barcelona are facing, Pique agreed to a 50% pay cut from his 30 million euros annual salary.

Pique's investments outside football include backing Sorare, a digital alternative to the age-old tradition of football trading cards.

The 34 year old is also the founder and president of Kosmos Holding, a sports and media investment group he started with Hiroshi Mikitani (founder and chairman of Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten, Inc.), Edmund Chu, Nullah Sarker and Mike Evans.

16. Sergio Ramos Net Worth – $80 Million

Sergio Ramos was crucial member of the Real Madrid team since 2005 after joining them from Sevilla. Starting out as a right back in the early years of his career then transitioning into a center back, his prowess as a defender is rivalled by few.

His contract with Real Madrid expired in 2021, where he was forced to join PSG on a free transfer. He is one of PSG’s highest earners – earning over £400,000 per week. His net worth in 2022 is estimated to be $80 million

15. Sergio Agüero Net Worth – $80 Million

The former Man city forward earned £10.4 million ($13.3 million) at Manchester City but earned even more — £14 million ($18 million) — from his sponsors, Puma and Pepsi.

At Barcelona he was forced to take a pay cut, after joining the Lliga giants on a free transfer.

14. Robert Lewandowski Net Worth – $85 Million

Robert Lewandowski moved from Borrussia Dortmund to FC Bayern in 2014. He established himself as one of the most lethal strikers in recent times and has scored over 500 goals.

He is the best paid footballplayer in Bundesliga. His contract with FC Bayern expires in 2023 and earns a weekly salary of £350,000. Lewandowski’s net worth in 2022 is approximately $85 million.

13. Antoine Griezmann Net Worth – $90 Million

Antoine Griezmann is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Atlético Madrid on loan from Barcelona and the France national team.

Griezmann joined Barcelona from Atletico for a reported 120 million euros fee, signing five-year contract.

His current weekly salary is around 300,000 euros and he has a net worth of approximately $90 million.

The French man also has endorsement deals with Puma, Beats Electronics and Gillette.

12. Mohamed Salah Net Worth – $90 Million

Salah joined Liverpool in 2017 for a fee of £36.5 million, Salah penned a £90,000 per week salary deal spanning for 3 years. In 2018 he signed a contract extension to keep him at Anfield up to 2023 and earn £220,000 per week.

The contract extension made Salah one of the best paid football players in the premier league  rubbing shoulders with the likes of Paul Pogba, Kevin Debruyne , Pierre aubameyang and David De Gea who are the best earning players in EPL.

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Mo Salah net worth to be $90 million which is a surge from a mere $3 million at time of joining Liverpool.

11. Mesut Ozil Net Worth – $100 million

Mesut Özil is a 30-year-old German football player who currently serves as an attacking midfielder on Turkey's Fenerbahçe team.

In early 2018, the player renewed his contract with Arsenal and boosted his pay, earning $23.7 million.

Additionally, he earns $6.5 million in endorsements and sponsorships. He boasts deals with Adidas, Mercedes Benz and Beats by Dre.

10. Kylian Mbappe Net Worth – $110 Million

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 – initially on loan, thereafter the move was made permanent with PSG forking out £174 million for his services.

He is the second most expensive football player of all time behind PSG teammate Neymar.

Business magazine Forbes, ranked Mbappe as the 4^th best paid footballer of 2020 earning $42 Million – $28 million in salary and $14 million from endorsements.

Due to his rapidly expanding brand it’s hard to estimate Mbappe’s net worth but numerous sources speculate he is worth $110 million

9. Andreas Iniesta Net Worth – $120 million

The former FC Barcelona captain has an estimated net worth of $120 million, this is thanks to an extensive career at Camp nou.

According to Forbes he was the 5th best paid player in the world 2019 taking home $32.5 million.

He currently plays for Japanese side Vissel Kobe. After moving to Kobe, the player ended his long-running sponsorship with Nike and signed on with Asics and also endorses Mikakus.

He earns $2.5 million in sponsorships total. He also earns extra income from Bodega Iniesta, his winery in Albacete, Spain.

8. Eden Hazard Net Worth — $120 Million

Eden Hazard earned £12.4 million ($16 million) per year at Chelsea and is one of the best earning players at Real Madrid.

The Belgian attacking midfielder is sponsored by Nike but also endorses trading card company Topps and Biscoff biscuit manufacturers Lotus Bakeries.

Hazard is currently considered as one of the best professional footballers in the world today.

7. Paul Pogba Net Worth – $125 Million

Pogba signed a five-year deal with United worth a reported £290,000 per week.

But, like many top sports stars, his income is heavily supplemented through commercial deals and endorsements. 

According to Forbes, Pogba’s was the 5th highest paid footballer in 2018 making £23.2m ($29.5m). 

In 2016, Pogba signed a 10-year sponsorship contract with Adidas reported to be worth £31m.

6. Gareth Bale Net Worth — $140 Million

Real Madrid pays Gareth Bale $23.4 million a year. The Welsh wizard is contractually-tied to the La Liga giants until 2022.

His sponsorship agreements with Adidas, Electronic Arts, Sony, and Footlocker are worth £9 million ($11.5 million) a year.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Net Worth — $190 Million

Zlatan had a huge salary at Man United but was forced to take a pay cut after moving to MLS side LA Galaxy and Ac Milan respectively.

Despite the pay cut his net worth is estimated to be around $190 Million.

He has sponsorship deals with Nivea, Xbox, Volvo, and Dressman; his investments include owning a substantial amount of property. 

4. Neymar Jr Net Worth — $220 Million

Neymar is currently the world most expensive footballer after securing a move worth $222 million from FC Barcelona to PSG.

Neymar earns $36.8 million a year apart from his many endorsement deals, which include agreements with the likes of Nike, Panasonic, Volkswagen, Red Bull, and many more. 

3. Martin Braithwaite Net Worth – $250 Million

After making a surprising move to FC Barcelona in 2020 from Leganes, Martin Braithwaite is again surprisingly being ranked as one of the richest footballers today. This is thanks to his off-field investments, in real estate.

Back in 2017, Braithwaite invested $850,000 in a business called NYCE Companies with his uncle. Now in 2022, the company is valued at over $250 million.

Braithwaite also makes a weekly wage of £85,000 at Barca. His net worth is approximately $250 million.

2. Lionel Messi Net Worth — $450 Million

Lionel Messi earns $42 million a year from his contract with PSG, after joining on a free transfer from Barcelona.

He also makes $27 million a year by endorsing brands Adidas, Gatorade, Pepsi, Gillette, and Turkish Airlines. 

According to the Forbes he was 2nd highest earning athlete worldwide in 2020 making a whopping $104 million. With a net worth of $450 million, the Argentine forward is the second richest footballer.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth — $500 million

Ronaldo is a 5 times winner of Balloon d'or which is the football's most prestigious individual award. Ronaldo earns more than $30 Million annually at Manchester United. 

He makes money by endorsing renowned brands like Motorola, Nike, Armani and Tag Heuer. 

Ronaldo also has his own CR7 brand which sells aftershave and clothes, according to Forbes.

He is the richest Football player with a most significant net worth of $500 million.

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