As the second grandest sports stage of all is already half way through, football fans are running crazy in excitement and surprises that the mega event has brought about so far.
With the mighty teams like England, Italy, Portugal and the former champions Spain eliminated right in the first stage of the World Cup, the currently underway round of 16 has started off with intense nail biting matches ending in a hyper tension extra time or the dramatic penalty shootouts.
Beyond the exciting aroma that the world cup swifts through, it brings together the mighty nations and the biggest players to their name that fans look forward to see in action after every four years of time.
However the premier league going through all the years other then the World Cup itself gives such a great boost to the commercial value of these young football players that some of them have even outnumbered famous American athletes.
For instance the famous forward Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo was the second highest payed football athlete round the globe making $52 basic salary as compared to just $30.5 million for the American athlete Kobe Bryant.
With the Worldcup 2014 going on, we think its the right time to acquaint you with the list of the 20 richest soccer players currently playing in the tournament.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: Net Worth - $250 Million
As we just mentioned, beyond the World Cup, the Portuguese captain is the second highest paid football athlete in the world with a sum of almost $80 million in the recent year. His major earnings come from a base salary of $52 million from the contract he signed with Read Madrid and other $30 million through different endorsement deals.
2. Lionel Messi: Net Worth - $180 Million
The Argentina skipper is currently the fourth highest payed soccer athlete in the world and the second richest in the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. His total income is a sum of $65 million out of which a basic salary is payed by the Spanish club Barcelona that he plays for. The remaining $20 million accounts for different endorsements deals with big names like Samsung, Adidas and Gillette.
3. Wayne Rooney: Net Worth - $125 Million
4. Philip Lahm: Net Worth - 90 Million
Lahm is a German defensive mid fielder who earns around $14 million a year from Bayern Munich.
5. Didier Drogba: Net Worth - $90 Million
Although Drogba plays for a nation that has not been able to standout in the FIFA Worldcups so far but the former Chelsea striker was able to make a prominent name in the football world as an individual. Currently he plays for Galatasaray Football Club in Turkey earning a base salary of $15 million. Other endorsements account to a total of $5-10 million.
6. Andres Iniesta: Net Worth - $90 Million
Andres Inieasta is a Spanish midfielder who plays for Barcelona along with Lionel Messi. He gets a sum of $13 million out of the contract with Barcelona. Unfortunately the World Cup ended a bit too early for him this year as the World Champions Spain were knocked out in the group stages.
7. Arjen Robben: Net Worth - 80 Million
At number 7 is the dutch footballer Arjeb Robber who plays for Bayern Munich round the year and gets a basic pulls off a basic salary of $7.5 million.
8. Samuel Eto'o: Net Worth - $75 Million
The Cameroon player Samuel Eto'o bags the position number 8 on the richest football players in the FIFA World Cup 2014. He plays as a striker for Chelsea and earns around $7 million a year according to the contract. Rumors have it that he might be leaving the club soon. Previously he has been earning $13 million for a Russian club and $10 million at Inter Milan. His endorsement deals make a sum of $4 million.
9. Yaya Toure: Net Worth - $70 Million
At number 9 is the world number 57 athlete from Ivory Coast, the same team that Didier Drogba plays for. He plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League and earns a base salary of $19 million. His major, endorsements, which account for a total of $3 million, include the famous shoe company Puma.
10. Ramadel Falcao: Net Worth - $70 Million
The 15th highest payed soccer athlete from Columbia Ramadel Falcao makes it to the top 10 in the richest football players in World Cup 2014. He plays for AC Milan that pays him a basic salary of $32. Rest of his earnings come from endorsement deals making up an amount of almost $3 million.
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11. Dani Alves: Net Worth - $60 Million
Daniel Alves da Silva, commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for FC Barcelona in La Liga and the Brazilian national team, as an offensive right back. His base salary is $10 million a year.
12. Sami Khedira: Net Worth - $60 Million
At number 12 is Sami Khedira. A German footballer currently playing for Real Madrid and the German national team. He receives a basic salary of $10 million per year from Real Madrid.
13. Frank Lampard: Net Worth - $60 Million
This English central midfielder stays in the limelight for his shots on and off the targets during the match. He earned about $8 million per year from Chelsea until he left the club recently. There have been rumors of him going to LA Galaxy.
14. Eden Hazard: Net Worth - $45 Million
As Belgium route through to the quarter finals in an intense encounter with USA last night, Eden Hazard will still be seen bouncing with the football in the field as he is an important part of the Belgium lineup. The 23 year old attacking midfielder plays for Chelsea and earns a base salary of $15 million in addition to $ million that comes from endorsements.
15. Fernando Torres: Net Worth - $60 Million
Unfortunately the World Cup is already over the Spanish striker as the former World Champions got knocked out right in the in group stages. Fernando Torres plays as a striker for Chelsea and earns a base salary of $17 million. Other earnings include $3 million through different endorsement deals.
16. Steven Gerrard: Net Worth - $60 Million
The captain for England this year had a disappointing end to the Word Cup already as England was eliminated in the first round of the tournament. Gerrard is also the captain of Liverpool and earns about $13.2 million from the salary and another $5.5 million through endorsements.
17. Sergio Ramos: Net Worth - $60 Million
Sergio Ramos Garc�a is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid and Spain. Mainly a central defender, he can perform equally as a right back. The ongoing World Cup in Brazil is already over him though but he makes it to the list of 20 richest football athletes who appeared in the World Cup 2014.
18. Neymar: Net Worth - $50 Million
At the 18th spot is the Brazilian forward/winger Neymar who plays for FC Barcelona in La Liga. He grabs about $10.5 million via salary and winnings while another $10 million through endorsement deals.
19. Robin van Persie: Net Worth - $50 Million
With a net worth of $50 Million, The Dutch football athlete Robin van Persie bags position number 19 in the top 20 richest soccer players in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. He plays for as a striker for Manchester United and earns about $16 million annually and an additional $3 million from the endorsements deals.
20. Gianluigi Buffon: Net Worth - $50 Million
The Italian goal keeper Gianluigi Buffin is the only keeper in this list which is mostly populated with strikers and mid fielders. He also plays for Serie A club Juventus. His total net worth in the recent year was $50 million.
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