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These are the footballers in Forbes's highest-paid athletes list of 2017

Features
By Greg Lea published 19 October 2017

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

9. James Rodriguez, $21.9m (91st overall)

9. James Rodriguez, $21.9m (91st overall)

The year was not a particularly happy one for James on the pitch, but the Colombian's earnings haven't been majorly affected by his struggles for game time at Real Madrid. He pocketed $21.9m across the 12 months, which places him above basketball star Klay Thompson and stock car racing driver Jimmie Johnson in the rankings. Vroom!

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Page 1 of 9
8. Sergio Aguero, $22.6m (80th overall)

8. Sergio Aguero, $22.6m (80th overall)

Aguero is on the brink of becoming Manchester City's all-time highest goalscorer, and has been well renumerated by the club in the last year, receiving a salary (which includes bonuses) of $14.6m. The Argentina international has also made $8m from endorsements, which is enough for him to squeeze into the top 80.

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Page 2 of 9
7. Luis Suarez, $23.3m (71st overall)

7. Luis Suarez, $23.3m (71st overall)

The Barcelona striker was the seventh-highest-paid footballer in the world over the last 12 months, banking $23.3m in total - $17.3m of which was from his salary, with an additional $6m received for endorsements from sponsors such as adidas, Pepsi and Samsung.

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Page 3 of 9
6. Wayne Rooney, $23.6m (70th overall)

6. Wayne Rooney, $23.6m (70th overall)

Rooney is likely to slide down this list next year after swapping Manchester United for Everton, but his $17.6m salary in 2016 keeps him comfortably in the top 100. The former England captain, who placed 49th in Forbes' previous list, sits ahead of basketballer Bradley Beal and American Football star Matt Kalil.

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Page 4 of 9
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, $32m (30th overall)

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, $32m (30th overall)

Ibrahimovic may be approaching the end of his playing career, but he shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to making money. The Manchester United striker was paid $27m in salary and bonuses in 2016, while he also earned a further $5m from endorsements - enough to rank him above tennis aces Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

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Page 5 of 9
4. Gareth Bale, $34m (24th overall)

4. Gareth Bale, $34m (24th overall)

Bale won the Champions League with Real Madrid and reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 with Wales last year, when he also made $34m - more than all but three of the world's footballers. The former Tottenham star was paid the same amount as Conor McGregor and fell just short of Usain Bolt and Jordan Spieth.

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Page 6 of 9
3. Neymar, $37m (18th overall)

3. Neymar, $37m (18th overall)

Neymar is likely to climb further up the overall rankings in 12 months' time following his world-record transfer to PSG, but the former Barcelona forward didn't exactly do badly in 2016. Indeed, only 17 sportspeople made more money than the Brazilian, who actually received more for endorsements ($22m) than he did in salary ($15m).

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Page 7 of 9
2. Lionel Messi, $80m (3rd overall)

2. Lionel Messi, $80m (3rd overall)

Messi finished second in last year's overall list, with his earnings dropping by $1.4m this time around. He's therefore been overtaken by basketball legend LeBron James, but the Argentine comfortably remains in the top three, having received $16m more than fourth-placed Roger Federer over the last 12 months.

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Page 8 of 9
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, $93m (1st overall)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, $93m (1st overall)

No sportsperson on the planet is paid more than Ronaldo, who took home a cool $93m in 2016. The Real Madrid man, who swiftly followed topping this list by winning a fifth Ballon d'Or, may not earn as much in endorsements as the likes of Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, but at $58m his salary is higher than anyone else on the list. In fact, only J.K. Rowling beats him for European celebrities.

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Page 9 of 9
TOPICS
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Greg Lea
Greg Lea
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Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).

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