14. Thiago Silva ($18 million)
Tie with Mesut Ozil with $18 million of annual earning is Thiago Silva. We put him above Ozil on our highest paid soccer players rank because Silva is making more salary than him. Paris Saint-German is currently paying Silva $16 million of salary and estimated bonus.
Silva joined the French club in 2012. When strikers get all the money and attention, that is pretty normal because they score and attack, providing what the crowd want to see. But when that happens to a defender, that is special.
Silva is a 31-year-old center back. To earn that amount of salary is huge considering his position. Let alone the extra $2 million he earns from endorsements. The biggest two of them come from Nike and Nissan.
If you think one of the highest paid soccer players will always shine on the field, you are wrong. Surprisingly, Silva was not included in the Brazilian’s national team for this year’s Copa America. Ouch.
