ENGLAND’S superstar players are in line to bank £1billion if they beat Spain tonight — with boss Gareth Southgate already making £2million for getting them there.
The Three Lions coach celebrated wildly on Wednesday when Ollie Watkins set up the historic clash with a last minute winner in the semi-final against the Netherlands.
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It sealed a bumper bonus for wily strategist Southgate, who has defied his critics to lead England to a second successive Euros final.
The Sun told last month he would get a £4million bonus if England won the tournament — and now we can reveal he has already got half of that just for making it to the final.
Meanwhile, a win for England in Berlin would mean the players could earn a combined £1billion during their careers from increased wages and megabucks endorsement deals.
Brands expert Marcel Knobil said: “Winning the Euros would make England close to being a billion-pound team in terms of future earnings.”
The earnings league is likely to be topped by Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, 21, whose brand looks certain to outstrip even David Beckham’s, raking him in £400million.
And part of that could even be down to his cheeky crotch-grabbing celebration after scoring a last-gasp bicycle kick in the last 16 match against Slovakia.
His antics led to a Uefa investigation, a suspended match ban and a £27,000 fine. But it could boost his appeal as it demonstrated super-confident swagger.
Marcel said: “Jude has all the ingredients to overtake Beckham’s £372million by the end of his career.
“He could be looking at £50million earnings annually with his Real Madrid salary plus sponsorships and endorsements.
“That amasses into the hundreds of millions.
“Jude will need the same business acumen and longevity of his playing career as Beckham.
“But he is right at the top of the world game from such a young age and is on a trajectory similar to Ronaldo. He’s got everything.”
Elsewhere, a further £100million would be picked up by each of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo, experts predict.
They would be put on a pedestal and enjoy celebrity status for the rest of their lives, just like England’s 1966 World Cup-winners.
And they would be able to increase their salaries by about £50,000 a week — adding up to £25million each in wages alone over ten years of top-tier football for the younger stars.
Meanwhile, England’s stars, who include Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi, have bonded into a battling band of brothers at their Euro 2024 base in Germany after a shaky start sealed their resolve.
Southgate’s team-building skills
The team struggled to impress in the early stages, despite topping their qualifying group.
But insiders revealed Southgate’s team-building skills came to the fore as he brought the group together.
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Fun, and noise, inside their camp at the Weimarer Golf Resort and Spa in Blankenhain grew along with their belief as they made their way to the final.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “There was a little concern about how quiet it was in there at first. Other teams hosted by the hotel make a lot more noise.
“But that seems to be Gareth Southgate’s style — he keeps his boys very calm and focused and brings them closer together.
Jude has all the ingredients to overtake Beckham’s £372million by the end of his career
Brands expert Marcel Knobil
“Lots of creature comforts were installed alongside all of the training equipment, including a big TV screen beside the pool so they could relax while watching games and their favourite shows.
“They loved mountain biking on the trails and getting out on the resort’s three golf courses.
“It was very noticeable how they seemed to relax and become more of a family and really began enjoying themselves between games.
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Lion cubs staying up for a treat
BEDTIME will be put on hold for a legion of young England fans tonight.
Alex Naughton, five, from Manchester, will be among the little Lions hoping to stay up long enough to roar the team onto victory.
He said: “I’ve been told I can stay up late and eat ice cream.” Jude, five, from Locksbottom, Kent, will also be hoping for a goal from namesake “hero” Jude Bellingham when he watches with brothers Frank, eight, and two-year-old Jasper.
And Roxy and Bobby Wicks, aged ten and six, are big Phil Foden fans. The siblings, from Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, said: “We love Phil Foden and can’t wait to see him score in the final.”
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