FIFA World Cup 2022: Most Expensive Body Part Insurance for Footballers

Less than ten days are left for the world’s biggest sporting event to kick off, hosted by Qatar. Football is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports in the world. Five billion people are anticipated to watch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which is astonishingly more than half of the world's population.

Though, the sport's popularity is not limited to the game itself; the superstars it has produced over the years rule the world with their lavish lifestyles, designer clothes, and expensive cars. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Gareth Bale will all grace the world stage for the world cup. However, along with the luxuriant lifestyles of these stars, they also take care of their health with the expensive body part insurance.

Insuring body parts in the world of celebrities is nothing new, but it is a unique form of insurance. The entire purpose of buying insurance for a body part is to replace any lost income if the person can no longer use that body part to make money due to injury, damage, scarring, impairment, or loss.

The chances of getting injured are always high when you play at the elite level. Therefore, many athletes insure their body parts. Since the Fifa world cup round the corner, let us look at the footballers with expensive body part insurance.

What is Body Part Insurance?

When it comes to insurance, we all know it is available for many things but for a body part? It is indeed something special. Body part insurance is a specific type of disability insurance that provides the chance to prevent financial ruin if a person is unable to work.

Body part insurance is not available to the general public because it is not provided by traditional insurance providers and is highly personalised. However, there is no reason why you cannot purchase it if you can afford to!

Football Players With Insured Body Parts

• Lionel Messi (Legs): Every time the little magician touches the ball with his left foot, the whole world stands and stares. The Argentina captain has the most expensive body part insurance in sports, with a $900 million policy on his left foot. As the PSG forward makes one final push to win football's most coveted trophy, which has eluded him throughout his career, Messi will play once more to captain Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Legs): The Portuguese are the most popular globally. His acute hard work, sizzling dribbling, and astonishing finishing have made him one of the best footballers in the world. With these extraordinary skills, the chances of getting injured are always higher. However, Real Madrid purchased an insurance policy for their star's legs in 2009 for about $144 million. Though he is now at the end of his career, we hope he wins the FIFA World Cup 2022 for Portugal, the only trophy he might be missing from his cabinet.
• David Beckham (Legs): The most stylish football player ever to play the game has also one of the most expensive insurance policies. In 2006, David decided to insure both his legs for a whopping $195 million. Later, for about $225 million, he upgraded the insurance to cover his entire body. He is also undoubtedly one of the wealthiest athletes in the world.
• Gareth Bale (Legs): Bale is known for his unique style and play. His explosive pace scares defenders. To guard against injuries that could end his career, Gareth Bale has around €100 million in leg insurance. The Welsh legend won one La Liga championship and four Champions Leagues with Real Madrid. Though he is in the fading stage of his career, we hope he has a significant impact on the upcoming world cup.
• Manuel Neuer(Hands): The hands are his weapon as a goalkeeper. And to be one of the best in the world, it takes strong hands to deal with sporting situations. In 2014, Manuel Neuer, a living legend and one of the best keepers in the world for Bayern Munich, insured his hands for $3.5 million.
• Iker Casillas(Hands): Iker Casillas, a Spanish legend and one of the best goalies in the world, decided to retire in August 2020 but insured his hands for $10 million in 2007. Casillas made a joke after agreeing to the insurance policy: "If I hurt my knee, I'll act like my hand hurts."

Football is a war on the field. Two sides battle with each other, and there will be injuries in a fierce battle like this. Many players get injured while playing, but only a few can afford body part insurance to ensure their future remains secured in the event of misfortune. A few of these superstars will rise to the occasion in this upcoming world cup and we hope that they safely, without getting injured, secure their hands on the trophy.

It's a unique occasion for billions from their homes, restaurants, bars, streets, and theatres to support their country.