10 Richest Footballers 2012- Know About World’s Richest Footballers

Here is a list of 10 richest footballers 2012 in the world for all our soccer crazy readers. For all those who follow the game keenly, it is common knowledge that footballers earn obscenely huge amounts every year from their wages, endorsements, public appearances, bonuses, et al.

For all of my ilk who love to follow their favorite teams and cry hoarse for them, stick to them through thick and thin and sit glued to their television sets till weird hours at night just to watch their favorite footballers in action, we have compiled a list of 10 richest footballers in the world.

List of Worlds Richest Footballers

This list has been compiled using information from various wikipedia sites and forbes.com.

10. Yaya Toure

Gnégnéri Yaya Touré, or Yaya Toure`, is a member of the relatively unknown Côte d’Ivoire national soccer team. This young player also plays as the midfielder for the Premier League Manchester City club besides being their vice captain.

Disciplined and dedicated, this footballer was decorated as the African Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012. A devout practicing Muslim, he is a delicious mix of both defensive and aggressive techniques besides being revered for his extraordinary passing and shooting skills.

2011 Earnings: €13.8 Million

2012 Earnings: €17.6 Million (£14.7m)

Net Worth: £12 Million or $19m

Endorsements: Puma, Adidas

9. Thierry Henry

This football player who plays for the French national team is a delight to watch for his speed on the field and the dexterity with which he can convert passes into goals is ranked 9^th on this list of richest football players.

Henry’s current club is   New York Red Bulls, though he has played for Juventus, Arsenal & Barcelona FC in the past. He got worldwide fame and recognition when he was declared the FIFA player fo the year in 2003. The talented player has been on a roll ever since and now owns a 5600 sq feet penthouse in New York besides some of the best known luxury cars, including a Lincoln Navigator.

2012 Earnings: €23.3 m (£19.4m)

Net worth: $60m

Endorsements: Gillette, Renault, Nike, Pepsi, Puma

 

8. Sergio Aguero

One of the finest players in the present Argentinean soccer team at present, Aguero plays for the Premier League Manchester City club.

Born in Lebanon, this immensely talented player was only 15 years 35 days of age when he started playing for his national team in the year 2003, shattering the previous record for the youngest capped player held by Diego Maradona.

Hailing from a very poor family, making it to the list of richest footballers in the world is indeed an achievement for Sergio Aguero. He is married to Giannina Maradona, the youngest daughter of another soccer legend, the one and only Maradona.

2012 Earnings: €18.8 m

Net worth: $62m

Endorsements: Puma, Pepsi

7.  Samuel Eto’o

This talented footballer from Cameroon is one of the brightest football talents from the Dark Continent. His club is the FC Anzhi Makhachkala, a small club owned by the Russian tycoon Suleiman Kerimov.

One of the most popular footballers from Africa, he has won the Award for the Best African Footballer of the Year for 4 years and, therefore, happens to be the most highly decorated African player ever and definitely one of the most popular sports figures from Africa.

2012 Earnings: €13m

Net worth: $69m

Endorsements: Ford, Puma

6. Wayne Rooney

This dedicated super star of the English soccer team plays for the Manchester United and is a role model for many a aspiring footballers. His handsome earnings over the years allow him to indulge himself with a fleet of 19 luxury cars by the latest count and a £4 million mansion in the posh neighborhood of Cheshire.

Even though Coca Cola terminated their endorsement deal with him in 2010, he has a kitty full of deals and promotes many popular and luxury brands, earning him a place in this tally of richest footballers 2012.

2011 Earnings: €20.7 m

2012 Earnings: €20.6 m (£17.2m)

Net worth: £45m or $72m

Major endorsements: Asda, Electronics Arts, Nike, Ford.

 5. Ronaldinho

Ronaldo Assis de Moreira, or Ronaldo as his fans love to call him, is a flamboyant Brazilian player has a lifestyle that matches his earnings.

Luxury cars, yachts, vacations at exotic locales and travelling by specially hired jet planes are all passé` for him.  He currently plays for A Flamengo. He was named the Best player of the Year by the FIFA in the years 2004 and 2005.

Earnings in 2012: $24 m

Net worth: $90 m

Major endorsements: Cadbury Schweppes, Groupe Danone, Pepsi, Nike

 

4. Ricardo Kaka

This 30 year old Brazilian player who is also the midfielder for the Real Madrid club was ranked 4^th among all footballers in terms of their earnings in the year 2012. He joined the Real Madrid in 2000 after having played with AC Milan for six years.

This 186 cm tall player has more than 18 million fans on Facebook and more than 12 million twitter followers. Such is his cult status among soccer fans. He ranks 4^th in this list as we move closer to the world richest footballer.

Earnings in 2011: €19.3 m

Earnings in 2012: €15.5 m

Net worth: $100 m

Major endorsements: Adidas, Armani, Guarana, Gatorade

 

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

A delight to watch on the field because of his ability to play with both his feet, this Portuguese player was the richest footballer in the world a few years back, till he was overtaken by Messi and Beckham.

Though he has always been in the news as much for his off-field antics as for his skills on the field, he was catapulted into limelight when he left Manchester United after a 6 year stint with them in 2009 and joined Real Madrid for a record shattering amount of £80 million!!!!

No wonder then that he owns swanky cars, has sprawling mansions at London and at Madrid and has a supermodel as a girlfriend. He was in the news recently for adorning the walls of his Madrid mansion with a nude picture of himself.

More for Ronaldo’s fans: Cristiano Ronaldo’s nude poster at his Madrid mansion

Earnings in 2012: $42 m

Net worth: $160 m

Major endorsements: Armani, Coca-cola, Castrol, Nike

 

2. David Beckham

Though this former captain of the English football team who is 35 years of age at present does not have too much of football left in him, he continues to be of the most highly paid footballers.

Beckham plays for The Los Angeles galaxy Club at present and is married to singer turned fashion designer Victoria Posh Beckham.

 

Earnings in 2012: €31.5 mn

Net worth: $260 mn/ £160 mn

Major endorsements: Adidas, Armani, Diet Coke, Samsung

1. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi was literally on a ball last year, and was the richest footballer in the world 2012 by consensus. Having scored 90 goals in one year, a feat yet unparalleled in the history of football, he was the cynosure of all attention in the sporting arena.

Undoubtedly one of the best strikers of the ball in the world at present, he is the captain of the Argentinean national team and plays for FC Barcelona club.

Earnings in 2011: €31 million

Earnings in 2012: €33 mn/ £27.5 million

Net worth: $110 million

Major endorsements: Audimars, Pepsi, Adidas, Konami

 

Other top notch footballers who failed to make it to the list of richest footballers inspite of earning in the top bracket are Fernando Torres, John Terry, Franm Lampard, Philipp Lahm, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard- to name just a few!!

So , that was a list of the worlds richest footballers 2012, based on their earnings in that particular year.

Surprised to see your favorite player’s name missing from the list, or enjoyed reading about your soccer idol?

Share your views with us.

Promising all our soccer starved fans a lot more on the topic after this list of 10 richest footballers 2012.

More for Ronaldo’s fans: Cristiano Ronaldo’s nude poster at his Madrid mansion