Around the mid 2010s, who was widely regarded as the best paid football player in the world while playing for FC Barcelona?

Introduction / Context:
European club football features some of the highest paid professional athletes in the world. During the mid 2010s, FC Barcelona was one of the top clubs, and one of its star forwards was often described as the best paid player globally. This general knowledge question asks the learner to identify that player from a list of famous Barcelona footballers of that era.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The club mentioned is FC Barcelona in Spain.
• The period referred to is around the mid 2010s.
• Options include Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.
• We consider standard reports that ranked salaries and endorsements during that time.

Concept / Approach:
The central idea is recognition of star status and combined income from salary and endorsements. Lionel Messi, as a multiple Ballon d Or winner and Barcelona legend, commanded very high wages and commercial deals. While Neymar Jr., Iniesta and Xavi were also world class players, Messi was consistently reported as the best paid player in football during that period. Therefore, recalling media reports and award histories helps in selecting the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which players among the options are attackers and global superstars with very high commercial value.Step 2: Recognise that Lionel Messi was Barcelona s main star and often ranked at or near the top of world income lists for footballers.Step 3: Neymar Jr. was also highly paid and famous but did not surpass Messi in most salary and endorsement rankings while they were together at Barcelona.Step 4: Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez were legendary midfielders but had lower overall earnings compared with Messi.Step 5: Therefore the player widely regarded as the best paid in the world while at FC Barcelona was Lionel Messi.

Verification / Alternative check:
Various sports business reports and magazines regularly published lists of top earning footballers. During the mid 2010s, these lists almost always featured Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the top. When focusing specifically on FC Barcelona players, Messi clearly led the earnings table. Neymar Jr. became one of the highest paid players after his later move to Paris Saint Germain. This pattern confirms that Messi was considered the best paid player in the relevant period at Barcelona.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Neymar Jr. had a very high salary and massive endorsements but still generally ranked slightly below Messi when both played together at Barcelona. Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, although hugely respected and well compensated, did not reach the same earning levels as global marketing icons. Therefore, none of them fits the description of being widely regarded as the best paid player in the world at that time while at Barcelona, leaving Lionel Messi as the correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may be tempted to pick Neymar Jr. because of his high profile transfer fees and sponsorship deals in later years, or they may focus on footballing greatness rather than documented earnings. Also, sentimental value attached to midfield generals like Xavi and Iniesta might bias choices. Remembering that income rankings combine salary with endorsement income and that Messi consistently occupied the top positions helps avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The best paid football player in the world while playing for FC Barcelona in the mid 2010s was Lionel Messi.