| The question as to whether or not athletes in | | | | highest earning soccer players are also the |
| general and soccer players in particular, | | | | ones with the highest wages. A club will want |
| should be earning the kind of money they're | | | | to keep a player that brings in incredible |
| earning is more vibrant then ever these days, | | | | amounts of money through endorsements and |
| with clubs paying their players incredible | | | | merchandise sale, so they will offer him a |
| amounts of money each year. The comparison to | | | | high salary. According to Forbes Magazine, |
| other sports is also very relative. A gymnast | | | | here are the top 3 earners: Ronaldinho ($29.5 |
| will train all his life, miss out on a lot of | | | | million, salary + endorsement deals) - one of |
| his younger years only to be able to handle a | | | | the most famous and nonconformist personas in |
| world class performance, but he will still | | | | soccer, Ronaldinho has become the trademark |
| not win as much in his lifetime as one of the | | | | of playing soccer as a game, not as a |
| highest earning soccer players makes in a | | | | business. His constant smile while playing |
| year. But that's the market's call and | | | | and his tricks made him one of the most |
| there's no "fair" in sales share. Getting | | | | popular figures today, despite the fact that |
| back to our topic, it's somewhat difficult to | | | | he's not as handsome and clean-cut as Beckham |
| judge exactly how much a player makes simply | | | | or Kaka. Ronaldinho is also widely considered |
| from his club salary, because many wage | | | | one of the best ever soccer players, despite |
| details are private, due to obvious reasons. | | | | the fact that he still has many years to play |
| As a club manager, you want to create | | | | for FC Barcelona, or his future clubs. David |
| complete harmony in your team and with all of | | | | Beckham ($29.1 million, salary + endorsement |
| them knowing that player gets paid twice as | | | | deals) - no presentation required, Beckham is |
| much as the rest, won't help you out with | | | | more than just a soccer players for close to |
| that. The highest earning soccer players can | | | | a decade now. His recent move to LA Galaxy |
| also be affected by having their salaries | | | | from Real Madrid for an impressive transfer |
| publicly available, because at every less | | | | fee was well worth it, since American finance |
| than bright performance, they'll be | | | | analysts agreed that the transfer would soon |
| confronted with a "My God! He really should | | | | turn to profit, as Beckham shirt sales and |
| have played better for the kind of money he's | | | | other endorsements would soon earn the club |
| making" type of exclamation from fans, media | | | | their money back. Ronaldo ($23.4 million, |
| and fellow players. A soccer player's income | | | | salary + endorsement deals) - the |
| also comes from several other sources than | | | | ex-phenomenon, the chunky Brazilian who |
| simply his wage. For example, the best ever | | | | impressed the World with his speed and |
| soccer players always made more money from | | | | goal-hungry attitude is not at the peak of |
| endorsements and ads than their wages; take a | | | | his game anymore, although his move to Milan |
| look at David Beckham if you don't believe | | | | seems to have revived him somewhat. Despite |
| me. Other contractual bonuses will also earn | | | | his declining form, Ronaldo remains one of |
| them a fair amount. For example, many | | | | the central figures in today's soccer, as he |
| strikers that are confident in their ability | | | | has an established name and image for over a |
| to play regularly and score will have | | | | decade. |
| contract bonuses for each goal, assist or for | | | | |
| a total number of goals at the end of the | | | | Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a |
| season, while agreeing for a lower wage | | | | Soccer Fans website that provides information |
| cutout. However, considering all of the | | | | on various topics related to soccer. Learn |
| above, it would be logical to say that the | | | | more about famous soccer players here. |