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Most youth of today dream of being a world-famous football player like David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo, to name a few. Aside from playing for big franchises, many hope to earn as much as these top-notch players. This dream is particularly true for many Vietnamese children who live in poverty. Most of them dream of someday driving sports cars and living in huge mansions and sprawling estates. Just how much these athletes inspire Vietnamese youth? Read on to learn more about football players and their extravagant homes:
Gareth Bale
House Value: $3 million
Gareth Frank Bale is a Welsh professional football player who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Wales National Team. Playing as a winger, known for his ball striking from a distance, swerving free kicks, and his ability to get past defenders with pace. Bale has received numerous praises from his senior teammates, who defined him as a footballer with incredible speed, great crossing ability, a great left foot, and extraordinary physical qualities.
He started his professional career at FC Southampton and then transferred to Tottenham Hotspur. Bale then bought shares of the Spanish football club “Real Madrid.” During the transition, Gareth purchased a mansion in Madrid for $3 million. The house used to belong to the footballer Kaka.
Andres Iniesta
House Value: $4.6 million
Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish professional football player who plays for Japanese club Vissel Kobe as a central midfielder. He stayed most of his career at Barcelona, where for three seasons, he served as the captain. He is considered one of the best midfielder of his generation. Iniesta was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI nine times and was chosen in the UEFA Team of the Year on six occasions. He was named in the All-time UEFA Euro XI. He won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, was also named the IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker.
In 2005, Andres built a house for $4.6 million. The house has five bedrooms, a chapel, and a swimming pool. As a testament of his achievement, he wrote his name, “Iniesta,” on the wall of the house.
Lionel Messi
House Value: $ 5 million
Born June 24, 1987, Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is a professional football player from Argentina. He plays as a captain for both the Argentina National Team and Spanish Club Barcelona. Messi has a record-tying five Ballon d’Or awards, four of which he won consecutively, and a record six European Golden Shoes. Many regard him as a thinking player and one of the greatest players of all time.
Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was a child. He went to Spain to join Barcelona when he was 13 years old. The organization agreed to shoulder his medical treatment. He then established himself as an essential player for the club. The Barcelona star is known for his excellent attitude and being humble on and off the field.
The Argentinian player bought a $5 million house that features a dedicated spa centre, home theatre, and an indoor soccer field for training.
Mario Balotelli
House Value: $ 5 million
Mario Balotelli Barwuah is an Italian professional football player who was born on August 12, 1990. He plays as a striker for Serie A club Brescia and Italy National team. Afterwards, Balotelli started his professional football career at Lumezzane. He had an ineffective probationary at Barcelona and later joining Inter Milan in 2007. Balotelli then joined Manchester City with the help of his former coach Roberto Mancini. However, luck wasn’t on his side as he was performing poorly with the team, and his off-field activities were unfathomable and impulsive. He eventually fell out of favour with Mancini and departed the club. Balotelli then returned to A.C. Milan and then to the Premier League with Liverpool.
Balotelli owns a great home regardless of the persistent predicaments on and off the field. He has a $5 million mansion.
Cristiano Ronaldo
House Value: $ 6 million
Perhaps one of the most inspiring football players of today because of his roots, Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus. Playing as a forward, he also serves as the captain of the Portugal national team. Frequently considered as one of the best players in the world, Ronaldo has a record-tying five Ballon d’Or awards, the most for a European player. He is also the first player to win four European Golden Shoes.
His most notable performance was when Ronaldo led his team to the semifinals during the championship “Euro 2012” as the best player of the tournament. He also made news when he transitioned to the Real Madrid for a record 94 million euros ($132 million), which allowed to call him the most expensive footballer in the world. With his earnings, Ronaldo was able to purchase a $6 million worth mansion in Manchester. He eventually sold his home and now owns a villa in Turin, Italy. His Turin home features eight bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and a majestic panoramic view of the city.
Frank Lampard
House Value: $ 7 million
Frank James Lampard is an English professional football manager and former player who serves as the head coach of Premier League club Chelsea. As a player, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. He began his career in 1995 at West Ham United, the club where his father, Frank Lampard Sr., also played. Lampard was an ingenious and technically skilled box-to-box midfielder.
Lampard bought a $7 million property in London. The house spans an area of 1,811 square metres and features nine bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, tennis courts, a marina, and a detached guest home.
John Terry
House Value: $7.5 million
John Terry is an English retired football player who served as the team captain of Chelsea. Known as the best defender of Chelsea, he now serves as the coach for Aston Villa. Terry has a stunning property portfolio, which is estimated to be worth around $48 million. Some of his properties feature a gym, a sauna, a guest wing, and a fishing lake. One of his houses has ten bedrooms, a home theatre, and an underground aquarium.
Didier Drogba
House Value: $14.4 million
Known as one of the best scorers of Chelsea, Didier Drogba scored a stunning 800 square metre of the property where he built his house worth $14.4 million. The home features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a dedicated room for his awards.
Wayne Rooney
House Value: $17.5 million
The striker and team captain of Manchester United and England national team used to be the most expensive player with an annual income of $32.6 million. As a result, the talented player bought a Cheshire house worth $17.5 million.
David Beckham
House value: $20 million
David Beckham is a legend on the field. In his years of playing professional football, he became the most expensive player in 2013 with an annual income of $50 million. After his marriage to Spice Girl Victoria, they bought a $20 million Gregorian-style home known as the Beckingham Palace.
