If you play up front for Manchester United, you’re probably extremely well paid. And I mean REALLY well paid. Striker Robin van Persie is the 81st highest paid athlete in the entire world. Forbes estimated his total earnings last year as $19.5 million dollars (see full list here).
His teammate, forward Wayne Rooney is 43rd at $23.4 million. The list factors in income from every source, not just the primary employer. Still that Glazer money is certainly being spent.
As you know, Rooney signed the richest contract in English football history a couple months ago. Two footballers cracked the top five with all time United great Cristiano Ronaldo #2 overall at $80 million earned last year. Lionel Messi is 4th and 64.7 million. Boxer Floyd Mayweather took the top spot at $105 million. Real Madrid has another member of the top 20 with Gareth Bale checking in at #14. Rooney makes more than any Premier Leaguer, although Manchester City ace Sergio Aguero is right there behind him at #44.
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also a frequent guest on talk shows across the world. Banks has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including NFL.com, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Deadspin, ESPN, Washington Times, NBC and the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)