The third-highest paid player in world football back in 2011 is a player who will not be known many.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the top two in the Ballon d’Or rankings that year, with Xavi completing the top three after a stellar year where he helped Barcelona win the treble.
But while the titans of football were also in the same position in terms of highest-earning players, a surprise player with a remarkable story took the bronze medal.
Dario Conca went his entire career without playing in Europe, instead spending his time in native Argentina, Brazil, China and the United States.
After a loan deal with Fluminense, Conca signed permanently with the Brazilian giants, helping them win a first league title in 26 years back in 2010.
Voted the best player in the league in consecutive years, Conca signed a lucrative deal with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande in 2011 – kicking off a period where several South American players moved to the Far East.
The club paid $10 million for his services, with Conca earning £170,000-a-week after penning a contract for two-and-a-half years. Although players in China would go on to earn more in the following years, the salary was monumental at the time and only Messi and Ronaldo had better financial terms.
Dario Conca earned more than £50 million in his career. Image: Getty
Conca played 99 times for Evergrande, scoring 54 goals and winning three Chinese Super League titles as well as the AFC Champions League.
He headed back to Fluminense where his wages dropped to a mere £8,000 a week but he ended up making a swift return to China with Shanghai SIPG, with the late Sven Goran Eriksson succeeding in bringing him to the club after taking the job.
After 17 goals in 58 games, he had a third stint with Fluminense on loan in 2017 and later made just three appearances for Austin Bold FC before hanging up his boots.
“Football has given me a lot, I love this career, it was fantastic for me, but today I think it’s the right time for me to stop,” Conca told GloboEsporte.com in 2019.
“I was not thinking about football today. It gave me a lot, I’m very grateful for everything, I managed to make a career, to have recognition.”
