Football’s Biggest Earners & The American Dream

France Football, as is customary for every single publication the world over, has released its list of football’s most handsomely rewarded from all facets of the business. There are, predictably, no surprises. Messi, Ronaldo, everybody else – even Golden McNuggets can no longer compete with the Clasico Kids.

Oh, and Yaya too. (Obviously.)

Though their is one surprise in the Top 10: two reps from MLS, none from Serie A.

Calcio, dying the slow death.

The numbers are very appropriately indicative of their standing in the world: while Messi isn’t leaps and bounds better than Ronaldo, it’s not terribly close, either – he’s simply better. Four million per annum is a nice solid number to indicate such.

Top 10.

1. Lionel Messi [31 million euro]
2. Cristiano Ronaldo [27]
3. Wayne Rooney [20,7]
4. Kaká [19,3]
5. David Beckham [19]
6. Ronaldinho [18,3]
7. Carlos Tévez [15,4]
8. Frank Lampard [14,2]
9. Yaya Touré [13,8]
10. Thierry Henry [13,2]

Leagues represented:

Prem – 4
La Liga – 3
MLS – 2
Brazil – 1

Ronaldinho maybe gets a half nod from Serie A, but the point remains – there is no one on the peninsula who can bring enough branding bucks to crack the ten. And yet…two reps from MLS.

Which proves that even if one’s on-pitch career is dwindling upon arrival in the States, the image needn’t be.

Welcome to the American dream – less work, still boffo money.

Also: Jose Mourinho is the most handsomely rewarded coach on the planet. But you know that already.

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Category: World Football