Four Footballers in Both the ‘Best-Paid XI’ and ‘Best XI’: What Does This Mean for Clubs

A new study from Spanish outlet, Marca, has revealed that only four players in world football belong in both the ‘best-paid XI’ and ‘Best XI’.

The findings suggest that a few of the highest earners on the planet are not necessarily amongst the best players. It is becoming abundantly clear that some clubs are overpaying their star players, while other clubs are not able to compete financially and therefore miss out on signing the top talent.

The data revealed that four of the world’s biggest stars, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and

Paul Pogba, were the only players from both lists. While these four can easily be considered amongst the greatest footballers in the world, it shows that they are also receiving astronomical wages for their performances.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been consistently amongst the best-paid players since 2009, while Neymar has seen an increase in his salary due to his move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United saw his wages increase dramatically, making him one of the best-paid players in world football.

However, it is not just these four who are receiving big money salaries; there are many other top players across Europe whose wages also reflect their performances on the pitch. The likes of Gareth Bale, Luis Suárez and Antoine Griezmann all have salaries which are much higher than the average footballer.

The study also revealed that some of the world’s top goalkeepers, such as David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois, were not included in either list, suggesting that goalkeeping is still not valued highly enough in football.

While wages in football continue to rise, this study shows that not all of the top earners are necessarily the best players. This could be a worrying trend for clubs, as they risk overpaying players who do not deliver on the pitch. It is important that clubs invest wisely when it comes to wages and only pay those who can justify their salaries with their performances.