Top 10 Highest Paid Football Players in 2014

10. Gareth Bale - Real Madrid

Yearly Salary: £9.5million

Weeklly Wage: £182,500

Major Sponsors: Adidas, EA Sports, Lucozade

Gareth Bale made the switch to Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee in September 2013 and earns a salary to match. He has sinced helped Real Madrid win the Copa Del Rey, Champions League and Club World Cup.

9. Robin van Persie - Manchester United

Yearly Salary: £10.7million

Weekly Wage: £200,000

Major Sponsors: Adidas, Pepsi

Dutchman Robin van Persie was a huge hit in his first season at Old Trafford following his switch from rivals Arsenal. His goals fired United to the Premier League title so you can see why they are paying him so highly. 

8. Yaya Toure - Manchester City

Yearly Salary: £10.9million

Weekly Wage: £209,600

Major Sponsor: Puma

Yaya Toure has become a key player for Manchester City since they signed him from Barcelona. He signed a new contract last year to remain at the Etihad Stadium and became one of the highest paid footballers. However, Toure is known to support charitable causes across his home country Ivory Coast and the African continent. His deal with Puma includes donations of shoes and clothing to underprivileged people in West Africa. 

7. Sergio Aguero - Manchester City

Yearly Salary: £11.3million

Weekly Wage: £217,500

Major Sponsors: Puma, Pepsi, Gillette

Manchester City did not hesitate to make Sergio Aguero their highest paid player when he agreed a new deal in 2013. His goals helped them win the Premier League last season and he is currently this season's top scorer despite suffering a number of injuries.

6. Wayne Rooney - Manchester United

Yearly Salary: £11.6million

Weekly Wage: £222,500

Major Sponsors: Nike, Samsung, Harper Collins

Despite handing in two transfer requests in the last two years, Wayne Rooney was offered a new deal on both occasions by Manchester United. Rooney has also recently become Manchester United and England captain increasing his marketability for potential sponsorship earnings.

5. Radamel Falcao - Monaco (on loan at Manchester United)

Yearly Salary: £11.7million

Weekly Wage: £225,500

Major Sponsors: Puma, Samsung, Gillette

Radamel Falcao had been a prolific goalscorer at Porto and Atletico Madrid before making a £50m move to Monaco in 2013 who doubled his wages. However, the Colombian star struggled to settle in France and suffered an injury that kept him out of the World Cup. This summer he moved to Manchester United on loan with the Old Trafford club picking up his weekly wage.

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Paris Saint-Germain

Yearly Salary: £12.2million

Weekly Wage: £233,500

Major Sponsors: Nike, Volvo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished last season with 30 goals in Ligue 1 for PSG, the league's top scorer, in a title winning campaign. However, the Swedish superstar had less luck for his country and missed out on playing at the World Cup this summer. His current sponsorship deal with Nike expires soon so there will be an opportunity for big earnings from new sponsors in the near future for Zlatan.

3. Neymar - Barcelona

Yearly Salary: £12.6million

Weekly Wage: £241,000

Major Sponsors: Nike, Castrol, Panasonic, L'Oreal, Volkswagen

Brazilian Neymar's move to Barcelona in June 2013 led to the resignation of club president Sandro Rosell as the full cost of the transfer was covered up with significant fees being paid to his father and former club Santos. Neymar also earns a huge salary as part of the deal and was the poster boy for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

2. Lionel Messi - Barcelona

Yearly Salary: £13.4million

Weekly Wage: £257,000

Major Sponsors: Adidas, Samsung, Pepsi, Turkish Airlines, Herbalife

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for a record four consecutive years before missing out in 2013 so it is no surprise to see him in this list as the second-highest paid player in football. Messi's clean cut image is also a hit with sponsors and he has been the face of several campaigns. However, Messi and his father have recently been caught in a tax evasion scandal and ordered to pay more than £4m.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid

Yearly Salary: £15million

Weekly Wage: £288,000

Major Sponsors: Nike, Samsung, Tag Heuer, Fly Emirates, Herbalife

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed an incredible two seasons with Real Madrid winning the 2013 Ballon d'Or and helping the Spanish side to win the Copa Del Rey, Champions League and most recently the Club World Cup. It was no surprise he was rewarded with a new 5-year deal to make him the highest-paid football star.