A number of sports stars have resorted to multi-million insurance policies to protect parts of their bodies, led by Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney brought the issue back into the spotlight after revealing that he had insured his hair.
According to the British newspaper "The Sun," the most prominent cases are as follows:
David Beckham.. £100 million
David Beckham's name was associated throughout his career with his distinctive shooting abilities and set pieces, before he also became one of the most prominent advertising faces in the world of sports.
In 2006, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star took out an insurance policy valued at approximately £100 million, covering his legs, feet, and toes, in addition to his physical appearance.
Messi and Ronaldo.. Hundreds of millions to protect their legs
The value of insuring Messi's legs reached approximately £682 million, while Cristiano Ronaldo's leg insurance policy was valued at around £109 million.
Casillas and Neuer.. Hands are their most valuable assets
The situation differed for goalkeepers, as the duo Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer insured their hands. In 2007, Casillas took out an insurance policy valued at approximately £6 million, in case of damage to his hands that could affect his career.
Neuer followed the same approach in 2014, after winning the World Cup with the German national team, where the value of his hand insurance was estimated at approximately £2.5 million.
Alonso insures his thumbs
Fernando Alonso, the Formula 1 World Champion, chose a more specific part of his body, having insured his thumbs for a value estimated at approximately £8.5 million in 2012, during his time driving for Ferrari.
Merv Hughes.. Insurance on his mustache
Unusual insurance policies were not limited to body parts directly linked to athletic performance; former Australian cricketer Merv Hughes became famous for his distinctive mustache.
Hughes insured his mustache for a value reaching approximately £200,000.
