2. Lionel Messi ($77 million)
Lionel Messi has become the Argentinian sensation right from the start. The whole world was stunned by his ability to move pass the defenders and score some fantastic goals. He reminded them of the Argentinian legend, Maradona. In fact, they shared the same controversial yet historical moment: “Hand of God” goal.
Messi received Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations when he was only 21 years old. And he did not stop right there. He has won the award for five consecutive times.
He signed up with Barcelona in 2001 and joined the main team in 2004. The club is currently paying him a staggering $51 million per year. In addition to that, he earns $26 million from endorsement deals. Among his major sponsors are Adidas, EA Sports, Gatorade, and Lays.
Unfortunately, Messi is currently having a hard time in both his professional and personal life. When he failed to score a penalty for Argentina during the last Copa America final, he decided to retire from international soccer. Soon after that, he had to go through some tax issues.
