Football has changed a lot in the last decade but nothing more than the amounts of money changing hands in the way of transfer fees, wages and endorsements.
Here are the Top 10 earners in football of 2007 compared to the Top 10 in 2017.
Top 10 2007
10. STEVEN GERRARD – Liverpool FC
Earnings (per year): £7.7 million
9. JOHN TERRY – Chelsea FC
Earnings (per year): £7.7 million
8. FABIO CANNAVARO – Real Madrid
Earnings (per year): £7.9 million
7. ZINEDINE ZIDANE – Endorsements
Earnings (per year): £8.5 million
6. THIERRY HENRY – Arsenal
Earnings (per year): £8.6 million
5. MICHAEL BALLACK – Chelsea
Earnings (per year): £9.1 million
4. WAYNE ROONEY – Manchester United
Earnings (per year): £9.3 million
3. RONALDO – AC Milan
Earnings (per year): £12.7 million
2. DAVID BECKHAM – Real Madrid
Earnings (per year): £15.8 million
1. RONALDINHO – Barcelona
Earnings (per year): £16 million
Top 10 2017
10. PAUL POGBA – Manchester United
Earning (per year): £15 million
- ANTOINE GRIEZMANN – Atletico Madrid
Earnings (per year): £15 million
- LUIS SUAREZ – Barcelona
Earnings (per year): £15 million
- OSCAR – Shanghai SIPG
Earnings (per year): £15 million
6. HULK – Shanghai SIPG
Earnings (per year): £16.6 million
5. MESSI – Barcelona
Earnings (per year): £18.2 million (after tax)
4. CRISTIANO RONALDO – Real Madrid
Earnings (per year): £18.9 million (after tax)
3. NEYMAR – PSG
Earnings (per year): £31.2 million
1. EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI – Hebei China Fortune
Earnings (per year): £31.9 million
- CARLOS TEVEZ – Shenhua FC
Earnings (per year): £31.9 million