From riches to rags - soccer's widening wealth gap

KINSHASA - There is Cristiano Ronaldo and his millions and Gloire Mbidi and his handful of dollars - and the gap between soccer's haves and have-nots is widening.

Ronaldo reportedly earns about $45 a minute every day just from his Real Madrid deal. Fellow striker Mbidi has no contract or salary from AC Real de Kinshasa, his team in the Democratic Republic of Congo .

"I do get $25 for each match we win," said the 26-year-old. "But if it is a draw or loss, I get nothing."

Mbidi trains twice a day and gets about 79 US cents traveling costs for each session.

"In 2008 and 2009 we were champions, but we still only got the $25 ... not one penny more," he said.

FIFPro, the international players' union, said Mbidi's case is the rule more than the exception.

According to a study of 14,000 players in 54 countries the union released in November, about 41 percent of soccer professionals do not get a salary and 45 percent earn less than $1,000 a month.

"The enormous salaries are a tiny minority," said FIFPro spokesman Alex Duff.

"Believing that most footballers live a life of luxury is like saying that most actors are Hollywood stars."

Dying in silence

Portuguese club Boavista made headlines in November after Nigerian international Michael Uchebo said he had not been paid for eight months because of a dispute with management.

"I have been dying in silence with no one to help me," he declared at the time.

The 26-year-old striker made films of his attempts to get past club security guards to get into the Boavista gym.

Boavista did not comment on the case, but club president Alvaro Braga accused Uchebo of not telling the truth and refusing a proposed transfer.

He finally agreed to end his contract in January. It was not revealed whether he had won any compensation.

In Venezuela an economic crisis has devastated the soccer league, like other industries. Players told FIFPro they had a salary of about $200 a month but prefer short-term contracts because of the hyperinflation that undermines any money they receive.

"After six months your salary is worth nothing. It is difficult to make ends meet," said one player, who gave his name as Jose.

In Argentina, the legendary Diego Maradona slammed the country's soccer authorities for a crisis in which players were not paid for months, multiple corruption scandals were uncovered and players went on strike for several days in protest.

In Africa, former Cote d'Ivoire and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, now Major League Soccer's Montreal Impact, sounded the alarm in defense of players "who have no status".

Among countries regularly singled out by FIFPro is Gabon, which the international union said is one of the most dangerous places to be a professional player - almost one in four has been subjected to physical violence and a third have been threatened by fans, according to FIFPro.

The union is also worried about countries in central and eastern Europe. Earlier this year, FIFPro warned players against signing for Serbian clubs.

Duff said that players only get safe and guaranteed conditions in a few countries in Europe, along with Canada and the United States.

But even in those countries players struggle to pay the mortgage each month and feed their children.