Carlos Tevez achieved a rare feat in the football world by surpassing the earnings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Rising from humble beginnings, the Argentine striker’s journey led him to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in December 2016, where reports suggested an annual income ranging from £34-38 million.
His groundbreaking £600,000-a-week contract supposedly made him the highest-paid footballer globally, exceeding Ronaldo and Messi during their peak performances at Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, Tevez, out of respect for his teammates, chose not to disclose the exact figures.
Despite limited appearances, featuring in 16 games and scoring four goals in two seasons for Shanghai Shenhua, Tevez returned to Argentina, rejoining Boca Juniors for the third and final time. This homecoming marked a return to his roots, reflecting on a challenging upbringing that transformed into a lucrative career.
Before his Chinese venture, Tevez openly discussed his tough childhood, stating, “It is tough to make people understand what life is like if they haven’t been through the same things as I have experienced.” Growing up in an environment rife with drugs and violence, Tevez emphasized how those hardships shaped his rapid maturation.
Retiring from professional football in 2022 after a career that spanned the Premier League and clubs like Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham, Manchester United, and Juventus, Tevez took on a managerial role with Independiente, a prestigious Argentine club. His retirement marked the end of a remarkable journey from adversity to football stardom.