Messi, Ronaldo and...: World’s Highest-Paid Football Players 2020

#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi was denied a potentially money-spinning move away from Barcelona this month after a contract-dispute but the Argentine maestro remains the world's richest soccer player.

According to a list compiled by Forbes, Messi's total earnings this year are $126 million -- $92 million from his salary and $34 million in endorsements.

(Photograph:Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Juve star Cristiano Ronaldo is on top of the list with 266 million Instagram followers. 

(Photograph:Twitter)

Neymar Jr.

Neymar Jr. is considered one of the best in his position. He witnessed exponential growth in his play while playing under Lionel Messi in Barcelona. Now with Messi's entry, he is likely to up his game and forms a dangerous trio alongside Messi and Mbappe. 

(Photograph:Twitter)

Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe had a good season in Ligue 1. He was the second-highest top scorer in the league.  

(Photograph:AFP)

Premier League: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), 32 goals, 2017/18

On his first season at Anfield, the Egyptian striker toppled the Premier League record by scoring one goal more than the previous joint record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Alan Shearer. 

After scoring on his debut at Watford on the opening weekend, Salah then hit four against the same opponents in the return at Anfield.

He never went more than two league games without scoring and only missed two of Liverpool's 38 Premier League games all season.

Salah then set a new league record with a goal in a 4-0 thumping of Brighton on the last day of the season.

In the pre-Premier League era, Dixie Dean scored a staggering 60 goals for Everton in 1927-28, including eight hat-tricks.

(Photograph:Reuters)

#6 Paul Pogba

Forbes has ranked Manchester United's midfielder Paul Pogba ($34 million) at sixth. Pogba’s current deal expires next summer, although Manchester United has the option to extend it one more year.

(Photograph:Reuters)

#7 Antoine Griezmann

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann ranked seventh with $33 million. Due to disappointing debut at Barcelona this past season, rumors have swirled that the club is negotiating to swap him to PSG in return for Neymar, at the request of Messi. 

(Photograph:AFP)

#8 Gareth Bale

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale comes at eighth total earnings of $29 million.

(Photograph:AFP)

Bundesliga: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), 41 goals in 2020/21

The record of 40 goals by Gerd Mueller stood unchallenged since 1971/72 until Lewandowski equalled it last weekend.

Lewandowski, FIFA's best male footballer of 2020, finally broke Mueller's record in the 90th minute of the final game of the season when he rounded the goalkeeper to tuck away his 41st goal in a 5-2 home win over Augsburg on Saturday.

Lewandowski's tally is all the more remarkable as he missed five league games this season, because of squad rotation or injury.

(Photograph:AFP)

#10 David de Gea

Despite a poor season with the Red Devils (Manchester United), Goalkeeper David de Gea comes at tenth with earnings of $29 million. 

(Photograph:Reuters)