The Goal Rich List 2013
40. Park Ji-Sung (QPR) - £18m
Park Ji-Sung is the most decorated Asian footballer in European history, having won four Premier League titles and becoming the first Asian footballer to win the Champions League - which he did with Manchester United in 2008.
Now 32 years old, Park left home for Japan in 2000 to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga before moving to PSV Eindhoven in 2002. In his last season in Holland he starred in the Champions League as PSV narrowly lost to AC Milan in the semi-finals.
He joined Man United for a £4 million signing in the summer of 2005 before joining QPR for an undisclosed fee last summer.
The Hoops midfielder is mobbed like a pop star when at home in South Korea and before his retirement from international football in 2011 had won 100 caps for the Reds.
Park earns £65,000-a-week in west London, taking a hit on the £75,000-a-week salary he earned at Manchester United, but his considerable off-field earnings certainly make up for that loss.
Gillette used the midfielder to replace one of their famous ‘trio of stars’ in a series of very lucrative ad campaigns across Asia. Park replaced Thierry Henry to appear alongside Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.
Park signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth £333,000-a-year - the biggest ever awarded to an Asian sportsman. He has also enjoyed a long-running sponsorship deal with Asiana Airlines since 2007 that is worth £125,000-a-year. The deal includes free first-class tickets for himself and family members.
His investments include a museum, football academy and charity called JS Foundation in South Korea. He also bought a house for his parents worth £2m.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 10:33 AM
The Goal Rich List 2013
The Goal Rich List 2013
To find out how we compiled the Goal Rich List 2013, check out our Rules of Engagement HERE
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50. Alessandro Nesta (Montreal Impact) - £16m
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49. Yaya Toure (Manchester City) - £16.5m
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48. Michael Essien (Real Madrid - loan) - £16.5m
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47. Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F Marinos) - £17m
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46. Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - £17m
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45. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) - £17m
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44. Xavi (Barcelona) - £17.5m
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43. David Trezeguet (River Plate) - £17.5m
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42. Clarence Seedorf (Botafogo) - £18m
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41. Daniele De Rossi (Roma) - £18m
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40. Park Ji-Sung (QPR) - £18m
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39. Damien Duff (Fulham) - £18.5m
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38. Paul Scholes (Manchester United) - £19m
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37. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) - £19.5m
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36. Joe Cole (West Ham United) - £19.5m
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35. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) - £20m
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34. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) - £20m
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33. Neymar (Santos) - £20m
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32. Petr Cech (Chelsea) - £20m
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31. Francesco Totti (Roma) - £20.5m
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30. Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) - £20.5m
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29. Miroslav Klose (Lazio) - £20.5m
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28. Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC) - £21m
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27. Nicolas Anelka (Juventus - loan) - £21.5m
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26. Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray) - £22m
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25. Fernando Torres (Chelsea) - £25m
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24. Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) - £25m
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23. John Terry (Chelsea) - £27.5m
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22. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) - £29m
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21. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) - £30m
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20. Robinho (AC Milan) - £31m
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19. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - £32m
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18. Robbie Fowler (Unattached) - £32.5m
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17. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - £33m
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16. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) - £34.5m
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15. Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) - £35.5m
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14. David Villa (Barcelona) - £37m
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13. Raul (Al Sadd) - £38m
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12. Michael Owen (Stoke City) - £40.5m
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11. Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) - £41m
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10. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) - £42m
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9. Rivaldo (Sao Caetano) - £45.5m
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8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG) - £47m
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7. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - £50m
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6. Samuel Eto’o (Anzhi Makhachkala) - £52m
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5. Ronaldinho (Atletico Mineiro) - £63m
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4. Kaka (Real Madrid) - £66.5m
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3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - £112m
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2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - £115.5m
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1. David Beckham (PSG) - £175m
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