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1. SPAIN While the Spanish squad is cheering here a victory over Italy on their way to 2010 World Cup win, they might as well be celebrating their paychecks: the Iberian team has the most expensive lineup in the world. Total Team Salary: $665.8 Million Top Paid Player: Juan Mata of Manchester United - $64.4 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__2_]()
2. ARGENTINA Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina moves the ball against Brazil during the first half of an international friendly soccer match on June 9, 2012 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Messi also moves a lot of funds as he is not only the top paid player on the Argentinean national team but the top paid player in the world. Total Team Salary: $648.3 Million Top Paid Player: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona - $188.9 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__7_]()
3. BRAZIL Love him or hate him, Neymar is sure to be one of the stars of this year's World Cup. He is also one of the Brazilian players with the biggest bank accounts ... and that's saying something with this squad. Total Team Salary: $643 Million Top Paid Player: Neymar of FC Barcelona - $92.2 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__9_]()
4. GERMANY While much of the European Union is struggling financially, Germany has been an economic powerhouse. The well-paid Mario Götze and the rest of the German squad hope they can also be a powerhouse in Brazil. Total Team Salary: $ 614.7 Million Top Paid Player: Mario Götze of Bayern Munich: $82.6 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__8_]()
5. FRANCE Old man Franck Ribéry leads a determined French squad into Brazil. And while they're a long shot to bring home the Cup, they can always drown their sorrows in a huge payday come league play. Total Team Salary: $549.9 Million Top Paid Player: Franck Ribéry of Bayern Munich - $53.6 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__1_]()
6. UNITED KINGDOM The English Premier League pays out some of the highest salaries in professional soccer, which makes it seem strange that England's squad only came in the sixth spot. That being said, Wayne Rooney and company shouldn't have trouble paying their way to Brazil. Total Team Salary: $488.6 Million Top Paid Player: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United - $57.6 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__4_]()
7. BELGIUM The Belgians may hail from a small country – and one next to powerhouse The Netherlands – but they're hoping the country's new star Eden Hazard and their heavy bankroll can help them come the World Cup. Total Team Salary: $463.5 Million Top Paid Player: Eden Hazard of Chelsea FC - $62.3 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__6_]()
8. ITALY Italy hopes to regain some of the glory it gained winning the Cup in 2006, and with a roster of highly paid players like Claudio Marchisio they might be able to. Total Team Salary: $444.6 Million Top Paid Player: Claudio Marchisio of Juventus F.C. - $40.1 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__5_]()
9. PORTUGAL Portugal's squad may not be as deep as some of the other rosters in the World Cup, but with reigning Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo on your team anything can happen. Total Team Salary: $395.8 Million Top Paid Player: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid - $146.7 Million![Expensive_WC_Teams__10_]()
10. COLOMBIA Colombia hasn't been to the World Cup in 16 years, but with players like James Rodríguez heating up and Radamel Falcao possibly being able to play, the South American squad could give some of the traditional powerhouses a run for their money. Total Team Salary: $308.1 Million Top Paid Player: James Rodríguez of AS Monaco FC - $49.6 MillionTop Ten Most Expensive Teams Heading To Brazil's World Cup
One major difference between this year's World Cup in Brazil and when the country hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games is how much the athletes earn. While many Olympians struggle to train while holding down full-time jobs, the soccer stars that will descend on Brazil have a total net worth of a small country, or about $8.4 billion total. Brazilian economic newspaper Valor compiled a chart of total team salaries; here is the top ten list. *All values are based on a criteria including age, technical ability, fitness and marketing clout up to the date of the participating nations' last outings.
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- Top Ten Most Expensive Teams Heading To Brazil's World Cup
