Ezequiel Lavezzi beats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to become highest paid player
The world’s best player has been revealed recently, and contrary to expectations it’s not Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, it’s Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi. According to reports coming in today, based on documents leaked by football whistle-blowers 'Football Leaks', Ezequiel Lavezzi earns twice as much per week as the Ballon d'Or winning pair.
The former Napoli winger, Lavezzi, currently plies his trade for a Chinese club called Hebei China Fortune after his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain early in the summer. According to the news that broke at the time of his transfer, he reportedly would earn £400,000 a week.
However, based on his newly leaked contract details by ‘Football Leaks’, it states that he is paid much more than previously expected. The new figure makes him the highest paid footballer in the world, drawing a weekly wage of £493,000.
Lionel Messi, who is yet to sign a new contract with Barcelona, reportedly currently earns £270,000-a -week, which is £223,000 less than his fellow Argentine team-mate Lavezzi.
While Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo who signed a new five-year deal last month, earns a reported £365,000 a week wage and his Los Blancos team-mate Gareth Bale has also signed a new deal with the Madrid club and his weekly wage is reportedly more than £350,000 after tax.
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo is Ballon d'Or winner claims leaked document
Lavezzi recently was recently involved in a huge controversy after a journalist accused him of using marijuana during an Argentina training session which led to a mass boycott of the media by the entire Argentine team, which was spearheaded by their captain Messi.
Messi said after their recent World Cup Qualifier, "We have made the decision not to talk to the press anymore, obviously you know why. There were a lot of accusations, a lot of disrespect, and the accusations they made against 'Pocho' [Lavezzi] are very serious," the Argentina captain Messi stated.
"We know that most of you guys don't play that game of disrespect. We can be criticised if we lose, or win, or if we play well or badly. But this is getting into personal lives," Messi said.
"If we don't put a stop to it now, we'll never stop it," he added
31-year-old Lavezzi was one of the driving forces of the old Paris Saint-Germain team in their consistent runs in the Champions League and before that earned worldwide recognition with Napoli. The quick and strong winger was known to tear apart defences with his pace and power.
Regardless of the allegations he has faced in the past, Lavezzi will surely be glad with the wages he is currently earning.
More Football news, transfer rumours, analysis and features at Sportskeeda.com. Also if you are attending a football game anywhere in the world and/or have a news tip for us drop us an email at football (at) sportskeeda (dot) com