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