Football is not only one of the most popular sports on the planet, but it's also one of the most lucrative, with billions of dollars. Football provides a large portion of the income for defenders. So, here are the world's wealthiest defenders in football.
10. Matthijs de Ligt | Netherlands
Photo: indiatimes
A central defender for Serie A club Juventus and the Netherlands national team, he was born in the Netherlands. Matthijs de Ligt made his debut for Ajax on September 21, 2016.
Matthijs is the most talented and versatile footballer of all time. He is known as one of the wealthiest defenders of all time. On the other hand, he is one of the most popular footballers on Instagram.
In a short time, he has won numerous awards, including the ABN AMRO Future Cup Best Player, Copa Amsterdam Best Player, and Dutch Football Talent of the Year. In 2017, he became the youngest player to play in a major European final when he faced Manchester United.
Ligt, a Golden Boy Award winner, is one of the wealthiest defenders, with a net worth of $11.2 million and a ranking of 10th in our list of the top ten wealthiest defenders of all time.
9. Giorgio Chiellini | Italy
Photo: bleacherreport
Giorgio Chiellini is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender and captain for both Juventus and the Italian national team in Serie A. He is now widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest football players.
He has a large following on social media and great respect for football fans. He was Juventus' longtime vice-captain and is known for his dedication and vocal leadership on the pitch.
Giorgio has won Serie A Team of the Year, Serie A Defender of the Year, and UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, making his country and fans proud. Chiellini is a physically strong and aggressive defender who is regarded as one of the best center-backs in the world.
He ranks 9th in our list of the world's richest football defenders, with a net worth of $15 million.
8. Virgil van Dijk | Netherlands
Photo: talksport
A Dutch professional footballer who captains the Netherlands national team and plays as a center-back for Premier League club, Liverpool. He is now one of the most well-known footballers on the planet.
Virgil van Dijk is widely considered to be one of the world's best defenders. He has a rabid fan base on social media, with 10.5 million Instagram followers and 5.4 million Facebook fans.
Virgil, who is known for his strength, leadership, and aerial abilities, has incredible techniques for defending the opponent and contributing to the team.
He is the spirit's defender, capable of hunting even the fastest attacker. He is the eighth-most wealthy football defender in the world, with a net worth of $27.55 million.
7. Harry Maguire | England
Photo: enca
An English professional footballer who currently plays as a center-back for Manchester United, one of the richest clubs in the world, and the England national team.
Harry Maguire began his professional career in 2011 with Sheffield United, where he spent three seasons. He later moved to Hull City for three seasons in a row. His vast vision and spectacular tactics have made him a household name.
In 2011, Harry won the PFA Team of the Year, the Football League One Team of the Season, and the Football League Young Player of the Month.
His Instagram account has 2.8 million followers, and his Twitter account has 2.8 million followers. Maguire, who has a net worth of $33.75 million, is ranked seventh among the world's richest defenders.
6. Vincent Kompany | Belgium
Photo: enca
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany is a former central defender and manager in the Belgian professional football league. He began his career at a young age and is widely regarded as the best footballer in history.
He spent the majority of his career with Manchester City, where he played 11 seasons and captained eight. And he's still one of the highest-paid footballers of all time.
He earns a handsome amount of money through sponsorships thanks to his 1.6 million Instagram followers, and he also has a net worth of $45 million, putting him in sixth place among the top ten most wealthy defenders.
By winning several awards, including Man of the Season, Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Season, Kompany has made his fans proud and excited.
5. Thiago Silva | Brazil
Photo: sportszion
Thiago Silva, a Brazilian professional footballer, is the captain of the Brazil national team and plays as a center-back for Premier League club Chelsea.
He began his youth career with Fluminense in 1998 and has never looked back, achieving massive success in his field as a result of his dedication and hard work.
He is widely regarded as the world's richest footballer, with 17 million Instagram followers, indicating that he is revered by football fans.
Thiago has won numerous awards, including the Bola de Prata, Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A Best Fan Player, and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year. He came in fifth place in our list of the top 10 football defenders with a net worth of $45 million.
4. Gerard Pique | Spain
Photo: playingfor90
Gerard Pique is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Barcelona in La Liga. Gerard, dubbed "the most promising defender," began his career in 2004 with the Manchester United academy, where he spent four seasons until 2008.
Pique, 34, has a sizable following on social media, which contributes significantly to his net worth as brands pay him for endorsements. He is also one of the most attractive football players of all time.
Gerard is well-known for his attractive appearance and his relationship with Colombian singer Shakira.
Gerard, widely regarded as the world's richest footballer, is a defender for FC Barcelona and has a net worth of $60 million, ranking him fourth among the world's richest football defenders.
3. Sergio Ramos | Spain
Photo: therealchamps
Sergio is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Spain national team. He is known as the richest football player in the world. He is widely regarded as one of the all-time great footballers.
The handsome man is best known for his 16-year stint as a central defender for Real Madrid. He is widely regarded as one of the wealthiest footballers, with 47.8 million Instagram followers, allowing him to receive more advertisements and endorsements from the world's most prestigious brands.
Sergio has won numerous awards, including La Liga Player of the Year, FIFA World Cup Dream Team, and Best La Liga Defender, which has elevated him to the position of the most valuable player in the league.
He came in third place in our list of the world's richest football defenders, with a net worth of $65 million.
2. Lucas Hernández | France
Photo: bundesliga
Lucas is a French professional footballer who currently plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the France national team as a left-back or center-back. He began his career with Rayo Majadahonda in 2005.
He's widely regarded as one of history's greatest defenders. Lucas Hernandez, the richest footballer in the world, makes a lot of money from his social media accounts.
He has won numerous awards for Bayern Munich, including the UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the UEFA Champions League.
He is the second richest football defender in the world, with a net worth of $80.87 million.
1. Philippe Lahm | Germany
Photo: dreamteamfc
Philipp Lahm, a former German professional footballer, was a fullback. He led Bayern Munich to many victories as captain, including the 2013 UEFA Champions League as part of the Treble.
He has a large number of fans on his social media account, which is the main reason why he attracts sponsors to increase his income.
With a net worth of $100 million, he is the richest football defender in the world, ranking first in our list of the top ten richest football defenders in the world.
