The 10 highest paid Ligue 1 players that you may not know

In football, it is no longer unusual for players to earn high salaries. Ligue 1 is always a focal point that attracts the attention of fans due to its famous and highly paid players. Amidst great expectations and media attention, the top 10 highest paid Ligue 1 players are not only exceptional on the field but also symbols of the allure and prosperity of French football. Join football tips experts to discover the brightest stars of Ligue 1 and the path they took to achieve their special status

Top the highest paid Ligue 1 players today

1. Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli Barwuah, born August 12, 1990, is a striker of Ghanaian-Italian descent. After leaving Liverpool, Balotelli decided to go to Nice to continue his career. In a lower-pressure competition environment, ‘Super Mario’ seems to have regained his form and confidence. He scored many important goals to help Nice win matches, bringing back fond memories of his time playing for Manchester City and Liverpool. Surprisingly, Balotelli still earns the highest salary at Nice, with a monthly salary of 450,000 euros.

He is famous not only for his talent from a young age but also for his hot-tempered, rebellious, and undisciplined behavior both on and off the field. Due to these traits, he has earned nicknames such as ‘Super Mario’ for his talent and ‘The Troublemaker’ for his arrogance and lack of discipline.

2. Marco Verratti

Marco Verratti, born on November 5, 1992, in Pescara, Italy, is one of the country’s top football talents. He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and is a key pillar of the Italian national team. As one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players, earning a monthly salary of 450,000 euros from PSG, Verratti has proven his worth not only through his on-field performance but also through his consistency and dedication to the club.

Verratti’s career started with the local team Pescara, and he quickly became famous for his outstanding talent and potential. He played an important part in helping Pescara win Serie B in the 2011-2012 season and received the Bravo award in 2012.  Verratti’s playing style is often compared to the legendary Andrea Pirlo, due to his excellent ability to control the match and pass the ball.

After moving to PSG in July 2012, Verratti became an integral part of the team, winning four consecutive Ligue 1 championships, along with many other individual titles, affirming his position among the highest paid Ligue 1 players.

3. Dimitri Florent Payet

Dimitri Florent Payet, born March 29, 1987, is one of the brightest stars in French football, especially as an attacking midfielder. He is currently with Marseille in Ligue 1 and is also an indispensable part of the French national team.

Payet’s loyalty and love for Marseille were clearly shown when he accepted a pay cut to return to his hometown club after a successful season at West Ham. Despite having the opportunity to join other big clubs, Payet still chose to stay in Marseille to show his commitment and loyalty. As one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players, Payet’s decision to remain with Marseille despite lucrative offers from other clubs highlights his dedication to his team and city.

On the international stage, Payet has made an important contribution to the success of the French team. He excelled in important matches, such as during the Euro 2012 qualifiers when he scored against Romania and Luxembourg. In particular, at Euro 2016, Payet shone with the decisive goal in the opening match against Romania and continued to score in the next match against Albania. His contribution helped France advance to the Euro 2016 final after a 5-2 victory over Iceland in the quarterfinals.

4. Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao García Zárate, or simply Falcao, born on February 10, 1986, in Santa Marta, Colombia, is one of the country’s top football players, known by the nickname ‘El Tigre’ (The Tiger).

After his difficult times playing in England, Falcao decided to return to AS Monaco and quickly regained his impressive form. At Monaco, he continuously scored goals and made an important contribution to the team’s victories. His contribution was rewarded with the captaincy and the status of being the highest-paid player at the club.

Falcao moved to Atlético Madrid from Porto for a fee of £35 million. In La Liga, he scored more than 30 goals in the 2011-2012 season and helped Atlético win the UEFA Europa League. Then, on 31 May 2013, Falcao moved to AS Monaco for £60 million, signing a five-year contract. From the very beginning, he showed his value with 9 goals in his first 13 matches for Monaco. Falcao also played for Manchester United on loan during the 2014-15 season, with an option to buy for £50 million at the end of the season.

5. Blaise Matuidi

Blaise Matuidi, born April 9, 1987, is a leading French footballer, famous for his role as a talented midfielder. Matuidi joined Paris Saint-Germain from Saint-Etienne in 2011. He was considered an icon during PSG’s dominant period in Ligue 1, and due to his significant contribution, he was awarded a high salary by the club. With up to 750,000 euros per month, Matuidi is one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players. Although there were speculations that he would leave after coach Emery took over, Matuidi was retained and continued to play an important role in the team’s play.

Matuidi began his football career at amateur clubs in the Île-de-France region, including US Fontenay-sous-Bois and CO Vincennois. In 1999, he was selected to study at the prestigious Clairefontaine football academy. After leaving Clairefontaine, Matuidi joined the professional club Créteil and spent three years developing at the club’s youth academy.

6. Javier Matías Pastore

Javier Matías Pastore, born on June 20, 1989, is one of Argentina’s top football players, known for his role as a creative attacking midfielder. He started his career at Talleres before moving to Club Atlético Huracán. After his successful stint in Argentina, Pastore made a significant impact in Europe, eventually becoming one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.

In 2009, Pastore conquered Serie A when he joined Palermo for a transfer fee of 4.7 million euros. His time at Palermo marked his rise to prominence, attracting the attention of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). In 2011, Pastore moved to PSG for a record fee of 39.8 million euros, becoming one of the highest paid players in France. At PSG, he won five Ligue 1 championships, contributing greatly to the team’s prosperity. His impressive salary and performance at PSG established him as one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players, and he won five Ligue 1 championships, contributing greatly to the team’s prosperity.

In 2018, Pastore continued his journey when he joined AS Roma for a fee of 24.7 million euros. In the international arena, he was present at the 2010 World Cup and three Copa América tournaments, including two finals in 2015 and 2016. Despite leaving PSG, Pastore’s salary at the club was still very impressive, up to 770,000 euros per month. This number cannot fully reflect the contributions and values he brings to the team.

7. Thiago Motta (PSG)

Although he has passed the peak of his career, Thiago Motta continues to maintain an important role in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad. The Italian midfielder’s experience and instincts are always highly appreciated by the PSG coach. Even though he is past his prime, Motta still plays with confidence and decisiveness on all fronts, always contributing significantly to PSG’s playing style. With his teammates Matuidi and Verratti, Motta has created a harmonious and versatile midfield trio in recent seasons.

On the field, Motta has gone through challenging times, starting from his time at Barcelona, where he was often injured. He then spent two and a half seasons with Inter Milan before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in January 2012. There, Motta won 27 major titles throughout his career. He also briefly played for Atlético Madrid in Spain and Genoa in Serie A. This proves Motta’s diversity and influence in his professional career.

8. Edinson Cavani (PSG)

After Ibrahimovic left PSG to join Manchester United, all the attention of the media and fans seemed to focus on Edinson Cavani. Facing great pressure to score goals and maintain form for the team, Cavani has continued to play very effectively, even leading the scoring charts in Ligue 1. His excellence does not come only from his ability to score goals but also from a harmonious combination of individual technique and team spirit.

Edinson Cavani started his career by joining Danubio FC’s youth system at the age of 12. After his success at the South American Youth Championship in 2007, he attracted the attention of many top clubs and joined Serie A, signing with Palermo the same year. His first match for Palermo saw an impressive performance, with a beautiful equalizing goal against Fiorentina. Since then, Cavani has become one of the top strikers in Serie A, with his ability to score goals and his relentless fighting spirit.

9. Angel Di Maria (PSG)

Ángel Fabián Di María, born February 14, 1988, is an Argentine professional football player, famous for his important role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 squad as well as the Argentina national team. He is capable of playing as a winger or attacking midfielder and is often considered one of the world’s top wingers. During his time at PSG, Di María became one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players, showcasing his exceptional skills and impact on the field.

As one of the most prominent names attracting the attention of fans, Angel Di Maria has proven himself to be one of the brightest stars in Ligue 1 with his excellent talent and technique. Paris Saint-Germain spent a large sum of money—up to 44 million pounds—to recruit this midfielder from Manchester United, a fee reflecting Di Maria’s quality. PSG has also committed to a very high salary for Di Maria—up to 900,000 euros per month—making him one of the highest paid Ligue 1 players.

10. Thiago Silva (PSG)

Thiago Emiliano da Silva, known as Thiago Silva, is an excellent Brazilian defender and an irreplaceable pillar of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He is the captain of PSG and receives the highest salary in Ligue 1—up to 1.1 million euros per month. Since joining PSG from AC Milan in 2012, Silva has played an undeniable role in providing solidity to the team’s defense and has scored important goals. Not only is Thiago Silva outstanding for his skills on the field, but he is also honored for his strong leadership qualities.

On July 14, 2012, Thiago Silva signed a 5-year contract with PSG for a transfer fee of up to 42 million euros and received a weekly salary of 185,000 euros. His first match for PSG took place on September 18 of the same year, when he scored in a 4-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League. His Ligue 1 debut was no less impressive. On September 22, which was also his birthday, he scored from the penalty spot to help PSG defeat Bastia 4-0. Additionally, PSG continued to surpass Marseille 2-0 in the round of 16 of the 2012-2013 French League Cup.

Conclusion

In France’s most prestigious tournament, the list of the 10 highest paid Ligue 1 players is not only a symbol of financial strength but also a symbol of talent and prestige. With their fighting spirit and relentless commitment, they have made their stature clear in the hearts of fans and have also contributed to the success of the club they represent.  These exciting contracts not only reflect the clubs’ investments but also highlight the fierce competition and appeal of Ligue 1. That is the great attraction of the top stars in this tournament, and they continue to be a constant source of inspiration for dramatic matches on French turf!

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