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Jonathan White

Spanish La Liga champions FC Barcelona have become the highest paying team in any sport, according to a new survey publishing teams’ average first-team salaries.
The data published by Sporting Intelligence in their annual General Sports Salary Survey shows the Spanish La Liga champions top the list with an average salary of US$13,398,857.
That figure, which includes bonuses and signing-on fees, puts them ahead of rivals Real Madrid, who pay US$10.38 million per player on average.
Barcelona’s expenditure comes on the back of contract extensions for many of their star players including Lionel Messi, the best paid player in any team sport.
FC Barcelona could play La Liga game in China says CEO Oscar Grau as club expand in Asia

Despite the spiralling costs, the club is in rude financial health as they recently declared that they were the first in any sport to generate more than US$1 billion in annual revenue.
The club’s cief executive Oscar Grau told the South China Morning Post recently that he expects that figure to rise.
“In our strategic plan, we want to reach one billion euros. We are very close. This year we presented to the assembly €960 million, just 40 away. I think in the next year we are going to surpass this amount.”
The giant revenue for the 2017-18 fiscal year was thanks in part to their expansion into the Asia market.
Crazy Rich Asians: Kei Nishikori, Virat Kohli, Masahiro Tanaka and the continent’s highest-paid sports stars 
“If we separate our revenue by continents, Asia is the first and we try to increase,” Grau said.
Italian side Juventus, who signed Real Madrid’s previous highest earner Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer, are one of two other football clubs in the NBA-dominated top 10 at ninth spot with Manchester United, the only English Premier League representative in 10th.
Last year’s highest paying sports team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are third for 2018 despite their average wage increasing from US$9.3 million to pass the US$10 million mark.
NBA champions Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards have also surpassed that figure – all three franchises doing so for the first time in US sport.
US$28 million a year China boss Marcello Lippi second only to Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho as best paid

The survey analysed 349 professional teams from eight sports. These were in 18 leagues across 13 countries.
The Chinese Super League has an average pay of US$1,025,451, putting it well outside of football’s top 10, which is led by the English Premier League.
England’s top flight is fourth on the list of the best paying sports leagues after the top paying NBA, Indian Premier League cricket and MLB.
Despite the outlay of Barcelona and Real Madrid, Spain’s La Liga is only the seventh best paying sports league behind the NHL and NFL.
Hong Kong’s top athletes deserve a pay rise, says Sports Institute chairman


Real Madrid football’s biggest earners, Liverpool top in EPL despite mediocre seasons

La Liga cancels plans for Barcelona v Villarreal clash in Miami, cites uncertainty in Spain

Uefa ‘reluctantly’ approves La Liga, Serie A matches overseas

Spanish football in Hong Kong? La Liga boss calls the city ‘perfect’ stage

Spanish La Liga

Billion-dollar Barcelona become highest paying sports team ever as new survey reveals rising wages in football, NBA

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring. Photo: Reuters

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League group H football match Juventus vs Manchester United at the Allianz stadium in Turin on November 7, 2018. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Oscar Grau Gomar, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of FC Barcelona, photographed in Central. 16NOV18 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Nov 2, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) looks to pass as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Sport

Football

Average pay for first teamers is US$13.4 million thanks to contract extensions for stars such as Lionel Messi
NBA trio become the first US teams in any sport to break the US$10 million mark


Average pay for first teamers is US$13.4 million, while NBA trio become the first US teams in any sport to break the US$10 million mark


NBA (National Basketball Association)

Billion-dollar Barcelona become highest paying sports team ever as new survey reveals rising wages in football, NBA

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Average pay for first teamers is US$13.4 million thanks to contract extensions for stars such as Lionel Messi NBA trio become the first US teams in any sport to break the US$10 million mark

Average pay for first teamers is US$13.4 million thanks to contract extensions for stars such as Lionel Messi

NBA trio become the first US teams in any sport to break the US$10 million mark