Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a confrontational sport where players are paid remuneration by clubs for their services.
There have been numerous Asian players who have gained success in European leagues such as Serie A and the Premier League. Some of them have even earned the highest salaries in the game.
1. Park-Ji Sung
Park-Ji Sung is a South Korean footballer who currently serves as club ambassador for Manchester United. He has won 19 trophies in his career and was the first Asian player to play in the Champions League final with the English club.
He earned his reputation after impressing for the South Korea national team under Guus Hiddink at the 2002 World Cup. He is also an all-action winger who can be relied upon to score goals for his club sides.
He is an extremely talented player who is known for his ability to beat players with his dribbling skills and accurate passes. He earns about 130,000 pounds a week.
2. Shinji Okazaki
He is a Japanese footballer who plays for Premier League club Leicester City as well as the Japan national team. He has a contract that pays him more than 75 thousand pounds per week.
Okazaki is a hardworking, unselfish striker who fits the United Nations mold of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City side. Unlike his compatriot Kagawa, he never seeks the spotlight but is content to let his talent do the talking. He is also an excellent free kick taker and a capable dribbler. He is a valuable member of the squad.
3. Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata earned a staggering $2,270,000 per year during his club career with Bellmare Hiratsuka, Parma, Bologna and Florentina. The Japan midfielder retired in 2006 after appearing for the national side at three World Cup tournaments.
Nakata’s style and flair led to him being compared with David Beckham. His fashion sense has also seen him appear in runway shows and wearing designer clothing. Nakata’s earnings have been supplemented by his premium sake business and endorsements. His net worth is estimated at $35 million.
4. Keisuke Nakamura
Japan’s Keisuke Nakamura is a top-flight midfielder who plays for Leicester City and the Japanese national team. He makes an estimated EUR 2.6 million a year for his club.
He played every minute of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the Blue Samurais.
Kagawa started out his career at Cerezo Osaka in his homeland of Japan, but moved to Dortmund in 2010. The attacking midfielder now makes an estimated EUR 2.4 million a year for the Bundesliga giants.
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5. Shinji Kagawa
Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa earns over 2.7 million dollars per year. He is a member of the Japan national team and currently plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
He is known for his vision, touch and bending shots on the ball. He is also a fan favorite at the World Cup for his impressive displays.
He was previously at Manchester United, where he won the English Premier League and became the first Asian player to score in a European Champions League final. Now, he plays for Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden.
6. Lee Chung-Yong
Just a few years ago European clubs used to overlook Asian footballers due to their smaller sizes and inferior skills. But with the introduction of players like Park Ji Sung and Shunsuke Nakamura this attitude is slowly changing.
Lee Chung-Yong is a South Korean footballer who plays for Ulsan Hyundai in K League 1. He has won the 2020 AFC Champions League with the club and was included in their preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup.
He earns a salary of around 130,000 pounds weekly.
7. Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min is a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and the captain of the South Korea national football team. He is a prolific goal scorer and his salary is huge.
He has been praised by teammates and pundits for his two-footedness and clinical finishing, but also for his sense of community off the pitch, with large donations to disaster relief, work with the World Food Programme and a football academy in his hometown.
He has been exempt from military service, as required of Korean men. He is a favorite with fans and has received numerous endorsements.
8. Shinji Okazaki
The Japanese player Shinji Okazaki has set new foundations for Asian footballers by making massive deals with European clubs. He is earning 130,000 pounds every week.
He started his career in 2005 with J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse. Later he moved to Stuttgart of the Bundesliga.
The Iranian player Azmoun is also one of the highest paid Asian players. He plays for both club and country as a midfielder. He currently has a four-year contract with Manchester United. He is famous for his accurate free-kicks, powerful striking skills, and bending dead ball delivery.
9. Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata, known as “Hide,” is one of the best Japanese soccer players in history. He’s also a model off the pitch and is known as “the Japanese David Beckham.”
Nakata was a key member of the Japan national team during three World Cups and two Olympics. He is famous for his accurate bending free kicks and dribbling skills.
He plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Japan national team. He’s also known for his powerful shot and long-range strikes. He’s been rewarded with massive salaries throughout his career.
10. Lee Chung-Yong
After a promising debut season with FC Seoul, Lee Chung-yong made the move to Premier League side Bolton this summer. He’s been red hot in his first few appearances for the club, bringing some much-needed flair to a team renowned for their primitive playing style.
Despite an onslaught of setbacks, Lee has kept his focus on being the best player he can be. His dazzling introduction vs Birmingham City was a reminder of what he can do when he’s on top form. He’s a fearless header and an outstanding free kick taker.
