Henry takes title of highest-paid French athlete

Thierry Henry is the highest-paid French athlete, pulling down USD 26.7 million, and holding off NBA San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker.

Parker is making USD 15 million, while Italian Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira is third at USD 12.5 million. Forty-three of the top 50 Frenchmen on the list are footballers.

Rumours have Henry finishing up this season at Spanish Barcelona and then following David Beckham to the MLS, where endorsements and the chance to be a football ambassador await.

If he heads to the MLS, he will need an endorsement-heavy deal such as the one Beckham signed to keep atop the French money standings. The MLS itself does not out-bid continental leagues for players. It can provide some nice inducements, however.

Beckham remains the highest-paid MLS player with USD 6.5 million a year, not counting his endorsements and incentives. Cuauhtemoc Blanco is next at USD 2.6 million.

Only five MLS players make more than a million for their on-pitch contracts.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.