Didier Drogba

Sport: Soccer

The 34-year old Cote d'Ivoire international created quite a stir when he sealed a deal with Shanghai Shenhua in June of 2012, reportedly worth 200,000 pounds a week. The deal made him the highest-paid player in China and placed him among the top-earners in soccer worldwide.

Drogba got off to a flying start at struggling Shenhua, then 12th in the 16-team China Super League (CSL), scoring twice during his home game debut in the 5-1 thrashing of Hangzhou Greentown and quickly earning him the nickname "Devil Beast."

Although the club was later hit by a row of wage arrears amid power wrestlings and struggled to stand 9th at the end of the season, Drogba's professionalism is still applauded by Chinese fans as well as his teammates.

In addition to his popularity on the field, Drogba also increased the league's exposure outside its home market. TV sports channel Eurosport signed a broadcast deal in October that secured the exclusive live pan-European TV and internet rights. The deal included the last three match days of the 2012 season, all featuring Shanghai Shenhua, and will continue throughout the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.