Top 50 Football Player Salaries in the World

By: Inara | February 27th, 2008

Today, a Portuguese financial website published the top 50 highest earning footballers in the world. I don’t know whether to be reassured or disappointed that Lyon have only two players on the list. Or the fact that Marseille and PSG each have a player earning more than any OL player.

Looking at the list, it’s not surprising that English and Spanish clubs dominate (keep in mind that these are gross wages and don’t include other premiums, like sponsorships, advertising, awards, etc).

Chelsea (8 players), Real Madrid (6 players), Barcelona (6 players), Manchester United (6 players), Liverpool (3 players), Inter (3 players), Juventus (3 players), Bayern Munich (2 players), Lyon (2 players), AC Milan (1 player), Portsmouth (1 player), Newcastle (1 player), Spurs (1 player), Roma (1 player), Atletico Madrid (1 player), Valencia (1 player), Marseille (1 player), PSG (1 player), LA Galaxy (1 player), Sampdoria (1 player)

Juninho comes in at 43rd place, earning €4.56m per year (€380,000/month). Our other representative, Sidney Govou, is at 46th, earning €4.5m per year (€375,000/month). Compare that with the highest earning player, Kaka, who brings home twice that.

If you’re curious about the numbers from France and want to compare salaries, last year France Football published the wages of 20 highest earning players in Ligue 1. This list was published last season, so some salaries have been adjusted since then.






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Comments  

  • Storm |  February 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

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    Govou? Seriously? He’s our second highest paid player? I’m sorry but good form or not that really doesn’t seem right to me. Though seeing Juni just above Beckham is strangely satisfying(even knowing this is just gross salary)!
    Actually from a club perspective I find it quite scarey to see such differences. Is there any way we can keep these lists away from the Bens? Especially Ben Arfa.

    Inara do you know what match premium the Lyon players could expect for each individual match they actually play?

    Posted from France France

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  • Jao |  February 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

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    Sorry to go off topic, but Remy is playing very well in the coupe de la ligue right now, playing on the right side (ironically govou’s position).

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  • Storm |  February 27th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

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    Its an amazing match – 4:4 and three goals in the space of four minutes. And Remy’s goal was set up by Belhadj. Go Lens go! Extra time just starting

    Posted from France France

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  • Inara |  February 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

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    Excellent for Remy! Hopefully performing like this will give him the confidence he needs to return to Lyon. :)

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Jo |  February 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

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    I’m so excited about Lens qualification !!! This match was UNBELIEVABLE !
    I said to my friends 5 months ago that Lens (who was 19th ! in Ligue 1) will be European next year. They will, because they’ll win Coupe de la ligue.
    This team is so great to see. And so is Le Mans. I wrote here I wanted some Le mans players for OL… I still want !! Romaric and Sessegnon could be very good back up to Toulalan and Ederson.

    About the topic, I have to disagree with Storm. I think it’s totally justified that Govou earn so much money. He’s here for so long, and I think some people don’t realize how much he is important for our team. Especially this year !
    He do an incredible defensive job, and score more goals than he ever did. He is everywhere, and is a real leader with Juninho.
    Don’t under estimate Govou’s role in Lyon’s games. He’s crucial.

    Posted from France France

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  • Inara |  February 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

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    I think Govou has the right of a high salary, but still, to be earning only a little bit of pocket change less than Juninho…

    Anyway, compared to last year, you would think that Lyon’s wage bill would have decreased, with Malouda, Wiltord, Tiago, and Carew all having left, but according to JMA, our wage bill has actually increased. Of course, with so many players, and with so many loaned players whose salaries we are all no doubt paying, I guess that makes sense.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Pride of Lyon |  February 27th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

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    I think it is normal for Govou to earn as much. If a player is faithful to a club, he deserves to earn a big salary. Lyon wouldn’t be the same team without Govou. He is one of the leaders with Juninho and Coupet.
    When all 3 will leave, it will be the end of an era!
    The truth is that if JMA is ready to pay Govou that much it is that he is worth that much. It also shows that JMA is not all about money, it is also about team spirit.

    I haven’t seen the game Le Mans – Lens, but apparently it was incredible to see. Lens have a very decent team, ans the 2 ex Lyon players like Belhadj and Remy show why Lyon wanted them.

    I hope Lens will be in Europe next year more than PSG, they have been playing attractive football for many years, and their fans are just great!

    Inara, I think our wage bill has gone down of 1.5 millions a year, but it needs to be confirmed. Aulas wanted to cut down 10 millions on salary expenditure. He will get there eventually just when Juninho will retire.

    Posted from Japan Japan

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  • lefutur |  February 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm

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    but Inara…you didnt tell us which LA Galaxy player is on the list. I’m dying to know!

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Inara |  February 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

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    Shit. You know what I just realized looking at that list again. Sergio Aguero is Atletico’s highest paid player earning 5m/year. That’s more than what Juninho earns!

    That’s how much it’s costing Atletico to keep him. Something that Lyon CANNOT do for Benzema.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Steve |  February 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

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    The most suprising thing to me about that list is that none of the players on this list are currently playing for the team that is at the top of the Premiership, Arsenal. Not the case for any of the other big european leagues, other than Portugal. Maybe that was why they reported it?

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  • Storm |  February 28th, 2008 at 5:31 am

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    Steve – in recent years Arsenal’s budget/wage bill has always been significantly lower than Man U or Chelsea. It is striking and its testament to Wenger that he’s been able to achieve as much as Sir Alex Ferguson or Mourihnio on a lower budget. Plus he’s amazingly astute at selling players just past their peak (but so just past its often imperceptable to outsiders).

    Jo – I agree that Govou is having an amazing season and yes loyalty should be rewarded (though loyalty also means not bad mouthing another player to the press); plus he does do a lot of things on the field beyond scoring goals (which don’t always happen so much!). But I just don’t seem him as worth almost the same value as Juni; more value than Coupet (who’s been there for longer)etc. Congralutions for the Lens win – it was a truly amazing match (except perhaps from Pele’s perspective).

    Posted from France France

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  • Inara |  February 28th, 2008 at 5:59 am

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    It’s true that Arsenal don’t have a high earning player, but since the departure of Henry, I guess they don’t have anyone to break that salary cap for (because Henry used to earn a shitload of money, even at stingy Arsenal). I would have thought Gallas would be on the list, especially since coming from Chelsea (therefore having higher wage demands), but I’m not surprised that Fabregas and Adebayor aren’t on this list. I don’t believe that any of those have had their contracts extended recently to give them a nice pay raise to reward them for their wonderful performances this year. But they will be because Arsenal will be desperate to keep them. As loyal as those guys are to their teams, they need to be earning somewhat competitive salaries, and if you’re a key player for the top placed team in the money drenched EPL, 4.5 million/year is the least you deserve (compared to other player salaries and what you would get if you went to another team).

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Corey |  February 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

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    Anyone else think Darrent bent being so high up the list, much less on the list at all is an absolute shame. Just goes to show how over inflated things are in the EPL….

    Posted from United States United States

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  • jf |  February 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

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    frank lampard surprisingly high up, lucky considering he is nowhere near that level in footballing terms. and harry kewell must thank god every night, never has a player earned so much for doing so little surely?

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  • Jo |  February 29th, 2008 at 2:09 am

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    And kaka just extended his contract… So he is now earning more !

    Posted from France France

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  • pride of Lyon |  February 29th, 2008 at 3:37 am

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    jf- Well I am a huge Lampard fan. He is very efficient on the pitch both at front and back. He isn’t selfish and scores regularly. Most of the time his goals are incredible too. I am no Chelsea fan, but I love both Lampard and Terry. I would be glad to have them in Lyon.

    Posted from Japan Japan

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  • masud |  April 16th, 2008 at 12:15 am

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    Sir,
    I am masud from bangladesh. I want to play in your club. Really believe me I am a best player. Many people say that my play like as ‘ZIDANE’. Many premier division football club very interested to me, but I don’t response them, because I want to play in a foreign club. I need a right opportunity to be the best football player as like the famous football players of the world. I am sure that If I get this opportunity then I can make myself as a famous player but there is no facility in our country for a football player. Our country is too small that it is not famous for the football players. There is no communication the football club of the foreign country. Don’t worry about me that I am not a best football player. I need just a right opportunity for that I can bring more reword for your club and improve in my life. So I will hope that you will give the right opportunity and oblige there by. I can send my cv(resume) and international passport photograph.

    contact number +8801712278660
    e-mail masud536@yahoo.com

    best regards
    masud

    Posted from Australia Australia

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