Highest paid footballers in each top league of Europe

Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in world. It's estimated to reach more than 3.5 billion fans. Cricket is the only one that comes close to 2.5 billion. With great popularity comes a great salary. The numbers have hit surreal heights and the trend does not seem to be slowing down. Let's talk about the players who take the sweetest piece of the pie. Here is the list of the highest paid footballers in each top league of Europe:

Neymar (Ligue 1, France)

Yearly earnings: 49 Million

Neymar has signed a contract extension with PSG in the summer of 2021. The Brazilian star will be loyal to the Parisian outfit until the summer of 2025. He will receive $36.5 million a year. Neymar has constantly been among the top five or top ten players in the world in the last decade. He has won everything in France but would certainly trade numerous domestic titles for the much-wanted UEFA Champions League silverware. Speaking of it, PSG have included a hefty bonus tag into Neymar's contract if the team go on and win the elite continental competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Premier League, England)

Yearly earning: 31.6 Million.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest-paid player in the history of the English Premier League when he signed a two-year deal with his old club Manchester United in the summer of 2021. Ronaldo thus returned to Old Trafford after spending more than a decade in Real Madrid and Juventus. Although things do not look great for the Red Devils at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo should by no means worry about his finances. He is the third-highest-paid player on the globe even at the age of 37. Much like his eternal rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo signed a two-year deal with an option of extension to an additional year.

Gareth Bale (La Liga, Spain)

Yearly earning: 34 Million

How to judge the Real Madrid career of Gareth Bale? He's won four Champions Leagues and scored in two finals – including a contender for the best goal ever to grace the showpiece event, against Liverpool. Yet the Welshman is now barely in the team and spends more time on the golf course than the pitch, his relations with the club, press and fans at an all-time low. Hey, the paycheque probably helps. 

Real Madrid's signing of Gareth Bale in 2013 from Tottenham Hotspurs remains one of the most expensive transfers to date. Bale moved to Real Madrid after a splendid season with Spurs in the Premier League, after clinching PFA Young Player of the Year and the PFA Best Player awards in the English top-flight.

Although his trajectory at Madrid has not been as smooth as many expected it to be, Bale's earning remains constant. with €34 million as his salary, the Welshman is one of the highest-paid footballers in 2021.

Robert Lewandowski ( Bundesliga, Germany)

Yearly earning: 23 Million.

For a long time now, Robert Lewandowski has been FC Bayern Munich's top-scorer each season and one of the world's most prolific goalscorers. After transferring in from Borussia Dortmund, the Polish striker has nudged up 297 goals in just 331 appearances.

For a player of Lewandowski's calibre, it's fair to say that Bayern has done everything within their reach to keep him at Munich. With a staggering €23 million in salary, the 33-year-old is one of the highest-paid footballers in Europe.

Paulo Dybala (Serie A, Italy)

Yearly earning: 13.5 Million.

Paolo Dybala is one of the few high-profile players left in Serie A after the departures of Ronaldo and Lukaku.

The 27-year-old Argentinian, who largely plays as a second striker, has been a decent performer in the competition. Dybala has won five Serie A titles with Juventus. He has made 135 goal contributions (89 goals, 46 assists) in the Italian top flight, most of them for the Bianconeri.