Highest Paid Asian Footballers
Asian footballers have made significant strides in the global football scene, showcasing their exceptional skills and commanding some of the highest salaries in the sport. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Asian footballers who have secured lucrative contracts, highlighting their achievements, challenges, and the impact of their success on the broader football landscape.
Introduction to Highest Paid Asian Footballers in Global Football
In recent years, Asian footballers have become prominent figures in top-tier football leagues worldwide. The rise of players from countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and Iran has reshaped perceptions of Asian talent in football. As a result, many of these players are now among the highest-paid athletes in the sport.
Factors Influencing High Pay in Football
Several factors contribute to the high salaries earned by top footballers, regardless of their nationality. These factors include the Player’s skill level, marketability, performance on the field, endorsements, and the economic power of their respective clubs.
Top Asian Footballers Earning Exceptional Salaries
10. Park Joo Ho (South Korea)
Position: Left-back / Midfielder
DOB: 16th January 1987
Height: 1.75 Meters (5 Feet 9 Inches)
Weight: 175 lbs. (71 KGs)
Since he was sixteen, Park Joo-ho has played defense for his native South Korea. He is a flexible player who mainly plays left back but can also be a defensive or wide midfielder. In 2007, he captained the South Korean national joker123 under-20 football team in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada. By 2022, his estimated net worth will have surpassed $1 million, mostly from his professional football career.
Furthermore, Ulsan Hyundai FC disclosed that he was paid €2,600,000 a year. He is among the highest-paid Asian football players, according to Park. He began his international career with South Korea during his U-20 years. He participated in his first international competition at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. His South Korean debut came in a match against Finland on January 18, 2010. 2012 saw Park’s first call-up to the national squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against Lebanon and Qatar.
9. Ji Dong-Won (South Korea)
Position: Forward
DOB: 28th May 1991
Height: 1.89 Meters (6 Feet 2 Inches)
Weight: 179 lbs. (81 KGs)
Ji Dong-won, a South Korean-born professional football player, plays as a winger for the South Korean national team and Eintracht Braunschweig while on loan from 1 FSV Mainz 05. We are unsure of the precise numbers regarding salary and net worth.
As a German team FC Augsburg player, he is rumored to make £832,000 a year and $13,233 a month. Dong is currently one of the highest-paid Asian football players due to his outstanding performances for both his team and clubs.
In November 2010, after having represented the Under-20 squad, Ji received his first call-up to the Under-23 squad. He made his U-23 debut in South Korea on November 8, 2010. On November 25, 2010, he scored his first U23 goals in a 4–3 triumph over Iran U23. Dong-Won was selected to compete for the U23 team in the Summer Olympics in London the following year.
He took part in every game for the team during the competition. Dong-won’s first goal tied the score at one, but South Korea prevailed 5–4 in a penalty shootout against Great Britain. Despite this, South Korea won bronze in the third-place playoff, defeating Japan 2-0.
8. Ki Sung Yueng (South Korea)
Position: Midfielder
DOB: 24th January 1989
Height: 1.89 Meters (6 Feet 2 Inches)
Weight: 165 lbs. (75 KGs)
Ki Sung-Yueng is regarded as one of the top players in soccer. 2008 saw him chosen for the South Korean national squad as a central midfielder. Ki Sung Yueng, a South Korean artist, was born in Gwangju, South Korea, on January 24, 1989. His senior league debut with FC Seoul occurred in 2006. Before this, he participated in the Brain Soccer Program at John Paul College in Brisbane.
One of the highest-paid football players in South Korea is Ki Sung-Yueng.
As he was born on January 24, 1989, he is among the well-known individuals that share that birthday. Ki Sung Yueng has an estimated $1–2 million net worth, which has been rising steadily.
Since he was granted full international status in 2007, South Korea has granted him more than 100 caps. Ki was in their squad for every World Cup and AFC Asian Cup. In the latter competition, he came in second. Yeung also competed for his nation in two Olympic Games, where he earned a bronze in 2012.
Ki and Swansea City won the EFL Cup in 2013 and the Player of the Year award on May 20, 2015. The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Cup are two more achievements he has at Celtic.
7. Lee Chung Yong (South Korea)
Position: Winger
DOB: 2nd July 1988
Height: 1.80 Meters (5 Feet 11 Inches)
Weight: 154 lbs. (70 KGs)
Soccer player Lee Chung-Yong, 31, has a 15 million dollar net worth. Thanks to his remarkable career, Yong became one of the highest-paid Asian football players. It implies that his wealth is unclear. Furthermore, he receives a weekly salary of €36K from his present team.
Lee Chung-Yong makes most of his money from his soccer career and his job as a player. His nation of origin is South Korea. His nickname, “Blue Dragon,” is an exact translation of his given name, “Chung-Yong.” In the K League series 2006, at just 18, Lee debuted for FC Seoul, a South Korean team he had joined in 2004.
Generally speaking, South Korean football fans have been very interested in this. Professional clubs mostly choose Football players in the nation through the draft. It was uncommon to be drafted by a major league team after middle school. Lee was a South Korea roster member for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
During South Korea’s opening game against Oman, Lee suffered a hairline fracture to his right tibia, which prevented him from playing for the rest of the tournament. Lee was part of the South Korean national team’s preliminary World Cup squad. However, he was left out of the final group.
Read More: Best Coaches Of International Football.
6. Massimo Luongo (Australia)
Position: Midfielder
DOB: 25th September 1992
Height: 1.76 Meters (5 Feet 9 Inches)
Weight: 165 lbs. (75 KGs)
Massimo Corey Luongo, an Australian football player, was born on September 25, 1992. He is an Australian national football team player and plays midfield for Sheffield Wednesday, an EFL Championship team. Massimo Luongo, who plays as a DM and AM C for Sheff Wed, makes £14,000 or £728,000 a year. His net worth is calculated to be £2,631,200.
Maximo Luongo, an Australian, was born in Sydney and is 26 years old. He still has until June 30, 2022, to play out his current contract, making him one of the highest-paid Asian football players.
After coming to England to play for APIA Leichhardt Tigers, he started his professional career as a player for Tottenham Hotspur.
Before moving permanently to Swindon Town, he was a loanee player at Ipswich Town. His current club is Sheffield Wednesday.
In 2014 and 2015, Luongo made 34 appearances for Australia’s national team. He competed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup on behalf of Australia. He greatly aided Australia’s victory in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. After playing effectively in the championship match, Luongo was named the tournament’s Player of the Year.
5. Yuto Nagatomo (Japan)
Position: Fullback
DOB: 12th September 1986
Height: 1.70 Meters (5 Feet 7 Inches)
Weight: 150 lbs. (68 KGs)
Yuto Nagatomo is a fullback for Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 and the Japan National Team. On May 24, 2008, he debuted for Japan internationally against Ivory Coast. He netted his first goal for his country against Syria in a friendly on November 13, 2008. Nagatomo was also a member of the 2008 Summer Olympics Japan U21 football team and had a bright future.
Estimates place Yuto Nagatomo’s income or net worth between $2 and $4 million. The soccer player’s principal source of income has been his career. Yuto’s exceptional play has earned him a spot among the highest-paid Japanese football players in 2022.
Cesena signed him to a full deal in January 2011 after he made a big impression during the 2011 Asian Cup with both Cesena and Japan. After Luciano Spalletti took over as team manager in 2017–18, Nagatomo performed better to reclaim his spot. He took the field for Inter for the 200th time against Crotone on September 16, 2017.
His free kick resulted in the game’s opening goal, a 0–2 victory; later, on December 12, Nagatomo appeared for 120 minutes against Pordenone’s Coppa Italia encounter. He scored the game-ending penalty in the 5–4 shootout, which guaranteed Internazionale’s passage to the quarterfinals when the game went to penalty shootouts.
4. Maya Yoshida (Japan)
Position: Center-Back
DOB: 24th August 1988
Height: 1.89 Meters (6 Feet 2 Inches)
Weight: 172 lbs. (78 KGs)
Born on August 24, 1988, Maya Yoshida is a Japanese football player who was a standout center-back for Serie A team Sampdoria. He is the national team captain for Japan as well. The new center-back for Southampton signed a big deal that would pay him 2.9 million euros (2.6 million pounds) annually.
He is currently one of the most valuable Asian football players due to his achievements in the game. In addition, Maya listed himself as the highest-paid Asian football player, with an estimated net worth of 15.8 million euros (14 million pounds).
On May 31, 2018, Yoshida was added to the 23-man FIFA World Cup roster. He played every minute in all three group-stage matches against Senegal, Poland, and Columbia. In the round of 16, Belgium defeated his team 3-2 to eliminate them from the competition.
Yoshida played in his 100th game for the Japanese national team on November 14 against Kyrgyzstan. On August 17, Yoshida made his season debut in a 2–1 loss to Liverpool, starting the full match.
3. Tim Cahill (Australia)
Position: Forward/Attacking Midfielder
DOB: 6th December 1979
Height: 1.78 Meters (5 Feet 10 Inches)
Weight: 168 lbs. (76 KGs)
Timothy Filiga Cahill, AO, is a former professional football player, born December 6, 1979. Throughout his career, Cahill was a striker and an offensive midfielder. Cahill, a box-to-box midfielder, gained notoriety for “his ability to head the ball in the penalty area and his aggressive and powerful approach.” He currently does commentary for Sky Sports and BBC Sport.
Cahill is frequently regarded as one of the wealthiest athletes in Australia. With a net worth of US$30 million in 2018, according to BRW, Cohill was one of the highest-paid Asian athletes even after he retired. In addition, he is one of the athletes who earned the most money this year.
Cahill scored 50 goals in 108 games for the Australian national team between 2004 and 2018. He scored Australia’s opening goal in the World Cup. Cahill scored five goals in the World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014). Compared to other Australians, he has scored the most goals.
He became the first Australian Player to score a goal in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Cahill’s strong heading ability and excellent vertical leap allow him to score most of his goals with his head. He became well-known for his shadow boxing routines around corner flags, which he does after scoring goals.
2. Shinji Kagawa (Japan)
Position: Forward/Attacking Midfielder
DOB: 17th March 1989
Height: 1.75 Meters (5 Feet 9 Inches)
Weight: 150 lbs. (68 KGs)
He is a midfielder for the Greek team PAOK and the Japanese national football team. Kagawa was born in Kyoto in March 1989. 2010 saw Kagawa sign with Borussia Dortmund after beginning his career in his home country with Cerezo Osaka.
After spending two years with Dortmund, Kagawa signed a four-year contract with Manchester United, one of the wealthiest football teams. Shinji, one of the top Asian football players with the highest salary, is thought to be worth $25 million.
Kagawa participated in his debut competition with the Japan national under-20 squad at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007. In addition, he was chosen to be a member of the 2008 Olympic team and play for Japan. On May 24, 2008, he was called to the senior team for a friendly Kirin Cup game.
Japan defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 in the match. He was not one of Takeshi Okada’s 23 final squads for the event, which was held in South Africa in 2010. His lone goal of the match came in Japan’s September 2010 victory against Paraguay in Yokohama.
1. Son Heung Min (South Korea)
Position: Forward
DOB: 8th July 1992
Height: 1.83 Meters (6 Feet)
Weight: 170 lbs. (77 KGs)
Son Heung-min, a forward for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, is well-known for his prowess in the game. He also represents the South Korean national team. In Seoul, South Korea, on July 8, 1992, he was born. One of the best Asian players in European football history is also regarded as one of the world’s best wingers.
Son is one of the top players in Asia and his home country; in 2019, he received the highest ranking of any Asian player thus far when he was nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Son has a $20 million net worth and is projected to make £7,280,000 in salary in 2022. Additionally, he will be faced with a £7,280,000 cap.
Son, a full international since 2010, has scored three goals at the World Cup for his nation, one of which he has scored with Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan. Son also participated in the 2018 Asian Games as a member of the South Korean squad.
He won gold in the AFC Asian Cup in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Korea came in second place in 2015. On December 24, 2010, Son was added by the South Korean national team to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup roster. On December 30, he debuted for the national team against Syria in a pre-tournament friendly.
Conclusion
Asian footballers have come a long way in establishing themselves as top athletes on the global stage. With continued support from their clubs, fans, and governing bodies, the future looks bright for Asian footballers to continue breaking barriers and achieving even greater success in the world of football.
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