Lionel Messi is not Paris Saint-Germain's highest-paid player in a surprising revelation and is in fact behind his former Barcelona teammate Neymar in the list of highest earners at the club.
The Argentine left Barcelona under a cloud last summer after the La Liga giants were forced to part ways with their greatest ever player due to falling foul of wage restrictions imposed by the league. As a result, he upped sticks to the French capital to ply his trade for PSG in a move that many saw as the final piece of the puzzle for the Parisians in their quest for a Champions League.
It has not entirely worked out that way or even close to as many would have expected, with Messi currently sitting on a feeble return of just two Ligue 1 goals in 18 outings and part of a PSG side humiliated by his former rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16. A Karim Benzema hat-trick dumped Messi's side out of the competition, plunging the future of many PSG stars into doubt.
Neymar was also in the firing line after the game against Los Blancos, especially as he has endured an underwhelming individual campaign that has seen his season littered with injuries. Despite this, the Brazilian remains the most well-paid player in Paris with a monthly salary that tops €4million, slightly more than Messi's €3.375m.
According to findings from French outlet L’Equipe, Neymar not only earns more than his fellow South American Messi but also nearly double what French superstar Kylian Mbappe takes home. The 23-year-old is the club's top scorer this term, though his current contract expires at the end of this season and it is widely expected that Mbappe will join PSG's European conquerors Real Madrid in the summer.
Though he may not earn as much, Mbappe was at least spared the boos and jeers Messi and Neymar were subjected to in the recent league game against Bordeaux at home in response to the club's elimination from the Champions League. The situation among the PSG fanbase is expected to become more volatile in the wake of Sunday's 3-0 defeat away at Monaco.
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The aforementioned report claims that of the top 20 highest earners in Ligue 1, places 1-18 are taken up by PSG players in a startling reminder of the club's financial powers. The next player below their famed attacking trio is veteran defender Marquinhos who earns the same as midfielder Marco Verratti - €1.2m.
Messi's future at the club has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, with former teammate and current Barcelona manager Xavi refusing to rule out a potential return to the Camp Nou. "Messi has earned having the doors open to Barca," Xavi told the press before Sunday's El Clasico triumph.
"As long as I'm the coach here, if he wants to come every day to watch training or talk to the coach, what he's given us is priceless. He's the best player in history. He deserves a big tribute from the club. But today he has a contract with PSG, I think he signed for two years."
PSG's top 10 earners revealed
- Neymar - €4.083m
- Lionel Messi - €3.375m
- Kylian Mbappe - €2.220m
- Marquinhos - €1.2m
- Marco Verratti - €1.2m
- Achraf Hakimi - €1.083m
- Keylor Navas - €1m
- Angel Di Maria - €950,000
- Georginio Wijnaldum - €916,000
- Gianluigi Donnarumma - €916,000
