The Highest Paid:Top 10 Footballers Of The World 2012

Here is our Top 10 List of Most Paid Footballers  of the world for year 2012.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi  is the highest-paid football player in the world in 2012, with a total income of €33 million derived from his salary, bonuses and commercial endorsements, according to the Football Rich List 2012 recently released by highly-respected France Football magazine. Messi  is  followed by former England captain David Beckham and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

1.  Lionel Andrés Messi 

Earnings 2012: €33 million

Date of Birth: Jun. 24, 1987

Country: Argentina

Club: Barcelona

Lionel Andrés Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, where he mainly serves as a forward. Dubbed the “New Maradona”, Messi is a prodigy in the game though he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency when he was a child.

2.David Beckham 

Earnings 2012: €31.5 million

Date of Birth: May 2, 1975

Country: England

Club: Los Angeles Galaxy

Mack Daddy David Beckham, currently playing for Los Angeles Galaxy, comes in a close second with a combined income of €31.5 million, €26 million of which came from advertising and endorsement contracts. The footballer previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and the England national team. He was twice the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999 and 2001.

3.Cristiano Ronaldo

Earnings 2012: €29.2m million

Date of Birth: Feb. 5, 1985

Country: Portugal

Club: Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is recognized as one of the best football players in the world, is best known for his incredible speed, powerful free-kicks, lightning fast feet and crossing ability. He currently plays as a winger for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the Portuguese national team.

4.Samuel Eto’o Fils

Earnings 2012: €23.3 million

Date of Birth: Mar. 10, 1981

Country: Cameroon

Club: Anzhi Makhachkala

Samuel Eto’o Fils is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for the small-but-with-big-ambitions Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. He also serves as the captain of the Cameroon national team. He is the most decorated African player of all time, having won the award for African Player of the Year four times in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010.

 5. Wayne Rooney 

Earnings 2012: €20.6 million

Date of Birth: Oct. 24, 1985

Country: England

Club: Manchester United

Wayne Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for both Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. The incredibly talented and diligent player is also well-known for his ill-tempered behaviors and spitting dirty words on the pitch. Rooney signed with Manchester United in 2004, and since then, he has led the team to Premier League victory four times.

6.Sergio Aguero 

Earnings 2012: €18.8 million

Date of Birth: Jun. 2, 1988

Country: Argentina

Club: Manchester City

Argentine footballer Sergio Aguero is currently playing as a striker for both Premier League club Manchester City and the Argentine national team. His ambition is to one day replace Lionel Messi as the world’s leading player. The all-round forward is best known for his spectacular dribbling, direct runs, ball control and strength. He was awarded FIFA Young Player of the Year 2007 and La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year 2008.

7. Yaya Toure

Earnings 2012: €17.6 million

Earnings 2010: €13.8 million

Date of Birth: May 13, 1983

Country: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Manchester City

Yaya Touré is currently playing as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Côte d’Ivoire national team. His elder brother, Kolo Touré, is his teammate at Côte d’Ivoire and Manchester City, but plays the back position. Touré was awarded the award for African Footballer of the Year 2011.

8.Fernando Torres 

Earnings 2012: €16.7 million

Date of Birth: Mar. 20, 1984

Country: Spain

Club: Chelsea

Fernando Torres is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea and the Spain national team. From Atlético Madrid, to Liverpool, and now Chelsea, Torres has been recognized as a world-class striker who is “quick, strong, impressive in the air, blessed with expert technique and is cool and collected in front of the goal”.

9.Ricardo Kaka

Earnings 2012: €15.5 million

Date of Birth: Apr. 22, 1982

Country: Brazil

Club: Real Madrid

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kaka, is a well-known Brazilian football attacking midfielder who is currently playing for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. He is famous for his calmness, amazing dribbling techniques and abilities to pose great threats to the opponent.

10.Phillip Lahm

Earnings 2012: €14.3 million

Date of Birth: Nov. 11, 1983

Country: Germany

Club: Bayern Munich

Philipp Lahm is a German professional footballer who plays for and captains both Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Starting his career at the age of 11, Lahm is now recognized as one of the best full backs in the world.

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