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No. 20
Oliver Kahn
Age: 38
Nationality: German
Club: Bayern Munich
Earnings (million): $10.3, 5.1 pounds, 7.5 euros
The veteran German goalkeeper is nicknamed King Kahn for his size and antics. Now winding down a storied career that brought him seven German league titles, six cups and a European Champions League winner's medal with Bayern Munich and a World Cup runner's up medal with the German national team, for which he appeared 86 times, 49 as captain. Does ads for Paulaner brewery and Burger King hamburgers.
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No. 19
Raul Gonzalez Blanco
Age: 31
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Real Madrid
Earnings (m): $10.9, 5.5 pounds, 8 euros
Spanish soul of a Real Madrid side that has been studded with a succession of foreign stars. Has captained the team since 2003 and worn its No. 7 jersey since first appearing for the team as a 19-year-old. Signed a lifelong contract with Real earlier this year. Now the club's second-leading goal scorer of all time despite long periods of fluctuating form that periodically exasperate Real's fans. Habitually kisses his wedding ring after scoring, just one of many pre- and in-match superstitions.
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No. 15
Alessandro del Piero
Age: 33
Nationality: Italian
Club: Juventus
Earnings (m): $14.3, 7.1 pounds, 10.4 euros
Won the World Cup with Italy and a string of honors with Juventus, for which he has played more than 400 times since 1993, and is the club's all-time leading scorer. Has slipped down the top-paying ranks since topping it in 2000, but his longevity, success and personality keep the endorsement income coming. Uses his fame and money to support cancer research.
No. 18
Lionel Messi
Age: 21
Nationality: Argentine
Club: Barcelona
Earnings (m): $11.9, 5.9 pounds, 8.7 euros
The latest Argentine wunderkind to be cursed with being dubbed "the new Maradona." Short, at 5 feet six inches, for a top class soccer player because of a childhood growth hormone deficiency, he is long on prodigious talent, breaking into the Barcelona, Spain, first team at 17 and winning the Under-20 World Cup with Argentina. Now a key player in the full national side as he is for his club, forming a partnership with play maker Ronaldhinho. Barca signed him to a fat new contract in 2005 that will keep the "Messidona" in the Catalan capital until 2014.
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No. 17
Rio Ferdinand
Age: 29
Nationality: English
Club: Manchester United
Earnings (m): $12.5, 6.3 pounds, 9.2 euros
England central defender having a career-high season with Manchester United, whom he joined in 2002 on a five-year deal that made him the most expensive British footballer in history and the world's most expensive defender. A string of driving offenses and a controversy over failing to attend a drug test in 2003 have dulled some of the tarnish on his appeal to marketers.
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No. 16
Didier Drogba
Age: 30
Nationality: Ivory Coast
Club: Chelsea
Earnings (m): $13.4, 6.7 pounds, 9.8 euros
Powerful Chelsea striker was Premier League's top goal scorer in 2006-07 and Africa's Footballer of the Year in 2006. Rich vein of form has continued this season, and he remains the Blues' first choice striker ahead of some very expensive competing talent. Grew up in France from age 5, playing for Olympique de Marseille, where he won French Player of the Year, before moving to Chelsea as the club's then record signing for 23.8 million pounds.
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No. 14
Frank Lampard
Age: 30
Nationality: English
Club: Chelsea
Earnings (m): $14.8, 7.4 pounds, 10.8 euros
Scion of two famous East London footballing families, the Lampards and the Rednapps, Lampard has become the midfield lynchpin of the Chelsea team assembled by Roman Abramovich's billions, and a regular with the England national side. In 2005 he was runner-up to Ronaldinho as World and European player of the year.
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