#FM17 : Top 10 Highest Paid Players in 2021

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Footballers wages are one of the most talked about subjects in the game. Many people feel that average players are paid astronomical salaries, significantly more than important members of society such as nurses and soldiers. With more money being put into the game, wages are only going to increase.

According to the Independent, Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest paid player in the world when he renewed his current deal at Real Madrid. But who will be the highest earners in five years time? We used Football Manager 17 to find out.

#10 – KEVIN DE BRUYNE

de-bruyne

Annual Earnings: £13m

Per Month:         £1,083,333
Per Week:          £250,000
Per Day:            £35,714
Per Hour:           £1,488
Per Minute:        £24
Per Second:       £0.41

Kicking off our top ten is Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who is currently playing for PSG on the simulation. As featured in my previous article, the French club paid a world-record £107m to bring the Belgian to the club, but his wage packet does not match his mammoth fee. Despite being the most expensive player in the world, De Bruyne is only the tenth
highest paid player equating to 5% of the club’s total wage bill.

#9 – ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

lewandowski

Annual Earnings: £13m

Per Month:         £1,083,333
Per Week:          £250,000
Per Day:             £35,714
Per Hour:            £1,488
Per Minute:        £24
Per Second:       £0.41

On the same wages as De Bruyne is Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski. The Polish
international also collects £250,000 per week at the German club. Lewandowski also has a 20-goal bonus to aim for which would see him scoop an extra £1m for his goal-scoring exploits. The former Borussia Dortmund striker lifted the Bundesliga Player of the Year award in 2018 after being named top goal scorer in consecutive seasons.

#8 – ANTOINE GRIEZMANN

griezmann

Annual Earnings: £13m

Per Month:         £1,083,333
Per Week:          £250,000
Per Day:            £35,714
Per Hour:           £1,488
Per Minute:        £24
Per Second:       £0.41

In at number eight is Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. The French international is currently plying his trade for Manchester United after swapping Spain for England in 2021. The Red Devils splashed over £60m to bring the striker to Old Trafford, offering £250,000 per week in wages. Griezmann also benefits from some bonuses including winning the Champions League, being the top goal scorer, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year.

#7 – TONI KROOS

kroos

Annual Earnings: £16.9m

Per Month:          £1,408,333
Per Week:           £325,000
Per Day:             £46,429
Per Hour:            £1,935
Per Minute:         £32
Per Second:        £1

The first Real Madrid player to enter our top ten is German midfielder Toni Kroos. The former Bayern Munich man is one of the best-paid players currently at the club, paid more than the likes of Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric. Kroos is one of the finest midfielders in the world which is represented in his pay packet; taking home £325,000 a week equating to almost £1.5m a month.

#6 – PAUL POGBA

pogba

Annual Earnings: £19.5m

Per Month:         £1,625,000
Per Week:          £375,000
Per Day:            £53,571
Per Hour:           £2,232
Per Minute:        £37
Per Second:       £1

At number six is the current world-record holder, Paul Pogba. His £90m return to Manchester United broke the current transfer record and also saw a considerable increase on
his wages at Juventus. The French international takes home £375,000 per week and also receives a bonus for being in the PFA Team of the Year. FM predict that Pogba’s time in Manchester will be successful, lifting multiple league and European honours.

#5 – CRISTIANO RONALDO

ronaldo

Annual Earnings: £19.5m

Per Month:         £1,625,000
Per Week:          £375,000
Per Day:            £53,571
Per Hour:           £2,232
Per Minute:        £37
Per Second:        £1

Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be only the fourth highest player in the world according to our FM simulation. This is further evidence that more money in the game should see an increase in player’s wages. The Portuguese international remains a key player in Madrid despite being 36-years of age meaning he is paid accordingly. The club also have the option to extend his current deal by one year if they chose.

#4 – LUIS SUAREZ

suarez

Annual Earnings: £19.5m

Per Month:         £1,625,000
Per Week:          £375,000
Per Day:             £53,571
Per Hour:            £2,232
Per Minute:         £37
Per Second:        £1

Entering the top four, we have our first Barcelona player. Uruguayan forward, Luis Suarez, will be the fourth highest earner according to FM. Taking home the same amount as Ronaldo, the former Liverpool striker has a goal-scoring incentive of 20 goals which would see him scoop an extra £1.5m. Suarez enjoyed a productive few seasons at Barcelona, being named La Liga top scorer in 2019 and 2020 which meant he finished second in the race for the Ballon d’Or.

#3 – GARETH BALE

Annual Earnings: £20.8m

Per Month:         £1,733,333
Per Week:           £400,000
Per Day:             £57,143
Per Hour:            £2,381
Per Minute:        £40
Per Second:        £1

Into the top three now and we have Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale. The Welsh hero will become the highest earning player at the club according to FM, taking home a whopping £400,000 per week. Bale has developed into one of the best players in the world following his move from Tottenham and will have to take more responsibility for goals at Madrid with Ronaldo approaching the twilight of his career.

#2 – NEYMAR

neymar

Annual Earnings: £26m

Per Month:         £2,166,667
Per Week:          £500,000
Per Day:             £71,429
Per Hour:            £2,976
Per Minute:         £50
Per Second:        £1

At number two, FM predicts that Brazilian superstar, Neymar will just miss out on the acclaim of the highest paid footballer in the world. The former Santos forward is currently in the midst of a financial storm regarding his transfer from the Brazilian club which could see the Barcelona winger face jail time. The Brazilian international signed a new deal at the club in 2018 which saw him increase his weekly wage to £500,000 per week.

#1 – LIONEL MESSI

messi

Annual Earnings: £35.1m

Per Month:          £2,925,000
Per Week:           £675,000
Per Day:             £96,429
Per Hour:            £4,018
Per Minute:         £67
Per Second:        £1

According to FM, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi will become the world’s highest-paid player in 2020 by penning a new contract worth £675,000 per week. FM predicts that Messi will continue to flourish in Barca colours, winning five consecutive Ballon d’Ors
from 2017 to 2021. The club were keen to tie up their star man to a new deal that will see him retire at the club. Messi’s enormous wages could well be something we see more regularly in the future with Middle Eastern and Chinese clubs willing to break the bank to land a superstar to headline their clubs.

Who do you think will be the highest earner in the world in 2021? Comment below!

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