The 10 highest paid footballers of 2020

Forbes has released the usual annual ranking of the highest paid footballers of 2020 and there is no shortage of surprises. Almost 510 million euros divided into 10 players, calculating both the gross salary and the sponsorships. The figures published by Forbes are pre-tax and yet the numbers remain important. Only one player from Serie A, three from the Premier League, two from Ligue 1, one from the Bundesliga and three from the Spanish Liga. The podium does not change, while in the top-10 there are many surprises: from Mbappé who "undermines" his teammate Neymar to the new entry Salah, not even in the top-20 just 12 months ago.

10. David De Gea (Manchester United)
Total: $ 27.000.000 (24 from salary, 3 from endorsement) | +2.2 million compared to 2019

9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Monaco)
Total: $ 28.000.000 (24 from salary, 4 from endorsement) | -1 million compared to 2019

8. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Total: $ 29.000.000 (23 from salary, 6 from endorsement) | -9.7 million compared to 2019

7. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)
Total: $ 33.000.000 (28 from salary, 5 from endorsement) | -5.5 million compared to 2019

6. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Total: $ 34.000.000 (28 from salary, 6 from endorsement) | +1 million compared to 2019

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Total: $ 37.000.000 (24 from salary, 13 from endorsement)

4. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
Total: $ 42.000.000 (28 from salary, 14 from endorsement) | +14.4 million compared to 2019

3. Neymar Jr. (PSG)
Total: $ 96.000.000 (78 from salary, 18 from endorsement) | -1 million compared to 2019

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Total: $ 117.000.000 (70 from salary, 47 from endorsement) | -1 million compared to 2019

1. Lionel Messi (Barcellona)
Total: $ 126.000.000 (92 from salary, 34 from endorsement) | -5 million compared to 2019

The revenues from CR7 sponsorships remain impressive, with € 47 million coming from endorsements alone. Messi record holder and second player to exceed one billion in assets, considering the years in business and the income deriving from partnership agreements. There are also many losses compared to 2019 (except for Salah and Mbappé) deriving above all from the cut in salaries due to the pandemic.