From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi: Ranking the top-5 highest-paid footballers of 2021

Footballers are one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, especially the successful ones. While they earn in millions, there are a couple who are also billionaires, as their earnings keep escalating. Besides their club salary, that also make huge from endorsements.

When it comes to football, there are many footballers whose name comes to one's mind. Some of them are so famous because they are paid huge by the club and national side, besides earning mammoth from endorsements deals.

Naturally, these footballers go on to become one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. Furthermore, with each passing year, their purse keeps getting heavier.

Some of the immensely successful footballers tend to earn millions per game. In the same light, we look at the five most highly-paid footballers of the fresh new year, of 2021.

Mohamed Salah (£27 million): The so-called Egyptian godfather and current Liverpool striker, Mohamed Salah has earned tremendous fame in the past few years, besides playing a massive role in its newly-found success. Since 2017, he has scored 117 goals for the side across competitions in 180 games. While he was signed in for £43 million, he reportedly earns £17.5 million per year, besides £9.5 million add-ons.

Kylian Mbappe (£31 million): Next up is the French lad, as the 22-year-old striker at Prais Saint-Germain is having a great career. Since 2017, he has scored 106 goals for the French champion in 147 matches across tournaments. A next-generation star, he also helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Naturally, he has been rewarded at one of the world's wealthiest clubs and reportedly earns around £31 million per year. He was signed in for a then world-record fee of €180 million.

Neymar (£70 million): The Brazilian striker happens to be Mbappe's teammate. Having joined the club around the same time from Barcelona for a world-record fee of £200 million, he has since scored 81 goals in 100 games across competitions, besides helping the side retain the Ligue 1 crown each season. Being the most expensive transfer in world history is bound to make him earn immense at the French capital, as he reportedly earns around £57 million per season. However, owing to his controversial nature, he earns relatively less from his sponsors.

Cristiano Ronaldo (£85 million): The Portuguese sensation is someone who hardly needs any introduction. Being one of the modern-day GOATs and a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, he is currently having a great stint at Juventus. Having joined the club in 2018 from Real Madrid for €100 million transfer fee, he has since scored 85 goals in 110 matches across tournaments. Having won the Serie A consistently, he reportedly earns around £51 million per year at Turin, making around £34 million extra from his exclusive CR7 brand. He is also the first footballer to become a billionaire.

Lionel Messi (£92 million): With Ronnie on second, that leaves just a man on top, and that has to be the Argentine superstar and Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi. Having been playing for the Catalan since 2004, he has scored 648 goals in 753 games across competitions. Besides, being a record six-time Ballon d'Or winner, he reportedly earns around £67 million per season at Camp Nou, besides also making £25 million extra from his endorsements. Phew!