Top Earning Footballers in 2006

By: Bob | March 30th, 2007

Move over David Beckham. There is a new king on top of the ridiculously large mountain of money paid to footballers. According to Forbes magazine annual list of top paid football players, Barcelona’s Ronaldinho supplanted Beckham as the player with the most money entering his bank account in 2006.

None of the players on the Forbes list are likely to be declaring bankruptcy soon. Here are the top 10 best paid footballers. Based on just list, who would you say is the most overpaid and who is the most underpaid (yes, that is a tough term to use when you are talking this kind of money, but go ahead and play along).

Top Earning Footballers in 2006

1. Ronaldinho - $29.5 million, £16 million, €23.5 million
2. David Beckham - $29.1 million, £15.8 million, €23.2 million
3. Ronaldo - $23.4 million, £12.7 million, €18.6 million
4. Wayne Rooney - $17.2 million, £9.3 million, €13.7 million
5. Michael Ballack - $16.8 million, £9.1 million, €13.4 million
6. Thierry Henry - $15.8 million, £8.6 million, €12.6 million
7. Zinedine Zidane - $15.6 million, £8.5 million, €12.4 million
8. Fabio Cannavaro - $14.6 million, £7.9 million, €11.6 million
9. John Terry - $14.3 million, £7.7 million, €11.4 million
10. Steven Gerrard - $14.2 million, £7.7 million, €11.3 million

Category: World Football

Tags: Best Paid Footballers, Best Paid Soccer Players, World Soccer, World Football, Tag Index

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• Lucas |  March 30th, 2007 at 8:56 am

  
  
  

  Er, I suppose Zidane is the most overpaid. I mean, $16mil? Didn’t he retire?

  Posted from United States

  

• Brian |  March 30th, 2007 at 9:14 am

  
  
  

  It’s pretty obvious who’s overpaid: Beckham, Ronaldo, Ballack, Zidane, and I would even throw Cannavaro in their as well. He’s way too one dimensional.

  Underpaid: Terry and Gerrard. Terry needs about $5m more tacked on just for hazard pay and Gerrard probably should be the highest paid Brit. If only he would get highlights.

  Posted from United States

  

• David |  March 30th, 2007 at 9:41 am

  
  
  

  Well it’s more of the name recognition that is providing those “overpaid” players the money. Sounds like they are finally getting into the American mindset of over-spending for players, regardless of their talent.

  Posted from United States

  

• Luis |  March 30th, 2007 at 9:44 am

  
  
  

  There will be a new name on that list next year. C. Ron = chaching!

  Posted from United States

  

• Sam |  March 30th, 2007 at 10:26 am

  
  
  

  Ridiculous? Yep!

  Posted from Canada

  

• Michael |  March 30th, 2007 at 11:13 am

  
  
  

  I’m going to make a rather bold prediction and say that L’pool will be featuring two people on next year’s list: Gerrard and Samuel Eto’o.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ian |  March 30th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

  
  
  

  I agree that Terry should be higher up on that list, but his position holds him back. Strikers are the ones that get the deals, regardless of the importance of a great defender. I’d frankly like to see more keepers making star-striker money. Isn’t a diving save from Petr Cech just as valuable as a goal from Rooney?

  Posted from United States

  

• bill |  April 25th, 2007 at 4:57 am

  
  
  

  i think that players are too over paid.

  Posted from United States

  

• bill |  April 25th, 2007 at 4:59 am

  
  
  

  players are stupid

  Posted from United States

  

• Dawood |  April 25th, 2007 at 11:52 pm

  
  
  

  I think Zidan deserve to be the most highest paid soccer player, because he is (off the chain).

  Posted from United States

  

• Lewis Y. |  May 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm

  
  
  

  For me, David Beckham is over-paid. He’s no more impressive.

  Posted from United States

  

• mastan khan |  September 22nd, 2007 at 11:38 am

  
  
  

  i think its nothing for zidane as he is the world best player

  Posted from United States

  

• Grayson |  October 1st, 2007 at 8:08 am

  
  
  

  Rooney and Ballack are definitely overpaid in every sense of the word. So is Beckham but i’d skip that as he’s paid a lot from from marketing and fan merchandise etc.
  Many more players are better than Beckham and not in this list: Kaka, Messi, Eto’o, Drogba, Owen, Fabregas, Torres and i can go on and on.

  I respect these ballers regardless, but i only hope some of the other excellent stars of the game will get their due reward…soon.

  Bless.

  Posted from Jamaica

  

• hatley |  October 29th, 2007 at 4:06 am

  
  
  

  STEVEN GERRARD IS BY FAR THE BEST MIDFIELDER IN THE WORLD, HE IS JUST SHEAR CLASS.ROONEY IS UGLY !!!

  Posted from Spain

  

• Jordan |  October 29th, 2007 at 4:09 am

  
  
  

  the geeza above me is a CUNT rooney may be ugly but he is 1 of the best players in the world Gearrd Is Almost DEAD xxxxx

  Posted from Spain

  

• hatley |  October 29th, 2007 at 4:11 am

  
  
  

  the geeza above me is not funny and just needs to grow up !!!!

  Posted from Spain

  

• Jordan |  October 29th, 2007 at 4:13 am

  
  
  

  Booooooooooo ruin every 1s fun SAW 4 :D:D:D:D:DD:D

  Posted from Spain

  

• My Offside Favorites of 2007 - Champions League - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world |  December 27th, 2007 at 11:00 am | Pingback

  
  
  

  […] of course you wondered which players made the most money in […]

  Posted from United States

  

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