World Football Players Earning the Most for Doing the Least

Everybody knows of someone not pulling their weight at work, no matter whether it's in the office, on the factory floor or behind the counter, despite being paid a comparatively inordinate amount of money to do so.

The world of football is no different and every fan has their own particular "pet hate" in this area of the game where the microscopic scrutiny is greater than the CCTV checking how many times John Smith has nipped out for a smoke again.

Here is a selection of players across the world who are being paid millions to do rather less than expected.

Which other players are not earning their impressive salaries? Let us know what you think below.

Michael Owen

Nobody could accuse former England striker Michael Owen of being lazy, but persistent injury problems have suffocated his flow of appearances at club and international level.

After playing for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United at the very top in football, the 33-year-old was determined to remain in the Premier League following his release at Old Trafford in the summer.

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis leapt at the chance to bring Owen to the Britannia Stadium, but after making his debut against Manchester City in Sept. 2012, Owen did not score until January after a hamstring injury halted his progress. However, that strike against Swansea did see the forward become the seventh player to hit 150 Premier League goals.

But it remains his only goal in six appearances, and Owen will be released from his pay-per-play deal by the Potteries club in the summer, as the Daily Mail reported.

Ricardo Quaresma

Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma has never been renowned for overachievement, and the former Inter Milan striker, who was named the Worst Player in Serie A in 2008 (via ESPN), has rarely fallen below what many expect from him.

After a disappointing loan spell with Chelsea, Quaresma vowed to win over the Inter supporters on his return to the club in 2009 as Goal.com reported, but then-San Siro coach Jose Mourinho barely used him during the team's successful 2009-10 season.

Quaresma joined Besiktas in 2010 and helped the Turkish club to some success in his first season before falling out with coach Carlos Carvalhal after a Europa League tie the following season.

Quaresma, 29, was suspended indefinitely over the incident in March 2012 (via Goal.com) and was released by Besiktas, who paid off the remaining six months of his contract as ESPN reported in December. He is now signed to Al Ahli in Dubai.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor remains what can only be diplomatically referred to as an enigma.

The Togo international scored 17 goals in 33 appearances during his season-long loan spell with Tottenham last season but has barely troubled the statisticians since making a permanent move to White Hart Lane in August 2012, following protracted negotiations over his settlement with City, as the Daily Telegraph reported.

Since making his move permanent, Adebayor's most memorable moment has been getting sent off for a lunge on Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla minutes after opening the scoring for Spurs at the Emirates Stadium in November. He has only scored one more time since then.

Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarabt is, arguably, the reason why Queens Park Rangers are a Premier League club.

The Morocco international almost single-handedly guided Neil Warnock's side out of the championship in 2011 with 19 goals in 44 games in all competitions.

However, Taarabt did not seize the opportunity to make a mark on the Premier League after QPR were promoted. The 23-year-old failed to register a goal until March 2012 and was the subject of public criticism by teammate Joey Barton, as The Guardian reported in October 2011.

Taarabt signed a new three-year contract at QPR under Mark Hughes, as BBC Sport reported. But the player has scored just four times this season as the west London battle to remain in the top flight.

Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin arrived at Arsenal from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2009 after making a name for himself while playing for Russia in the European Championships in the previous year.

The forward endeared himself almost immediately to the Emirates Stadium supporters when he slotted home from a tight angle against Blackburn Rovers before setting up Emmanuel Eboue in the 4-0 win.

The 31-year-old produced a masterclass in finishing when he struck all four Arsenal goals in a 4-4 draw at Liverpool later in the season.

But Arshavin has failed to replicate that form for the Gunners in recent seasons and spent the latter part of last term back at Zenit on loan.

Arshavin has played just 11 times for Arsenal this season, mostly from the bench, and his only appearance for the Gunners since November came as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Jan. 20.

Nicklas Bendtner

On-loan Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner has been hitting the headlines recently but not for his performances on the field.

The Denmark international was banned from driving for three years after being found guilty of a drunk-driving offence in Copenhagen last week, as the Daily Telegraph reported.

Then it was revealed that Bendtner's replica shirt had not sold a single version in the Juventus club shops (Daily Mail).

In September 2011, Bendtner joined Sunderland on loan for the season and vowed never to return to Arsenal as ESPN reported.

However, the Dane is currently on a season-long loan at Juventus where things have barely improved, with Bendtner scoring just once in 11 appearances for the Turin side before suffering a thigh injury in December.

The striker's current contract with Arsenal will end next summer, as The Metro reported in 2009.

Fernando Torres

It can only be a matter of time surely before someone puts Fernando Torres out of his misery at Chelsea?

The Spain international has endured a wretched two years at Stamford Bridge since making a £50 million switch from Liverpool in January 2011.

Torres has barely recovered from an initial spell of 903 minutes without a goal for Chelsea, despite breaking several club goalscoring records at Anfield (LFCHistory.net).

The 28-year-old has recently been linked with a return to Atletico Madrid as part of a makeweight in a deal to bring Radamel Falcao to Chelsea, as reported by The Mirror.

Darren Bent

In the same month as Fernando Torres left Liverpool for Chelsea, Aston Villa broke their club record to sign Darren Bent from Sunderland in a deal worth £18 million with add-ons rising to £24 million (BBC Sport).

Bent had already scored 11 times for the Wearside club when he made the move to the Midlands and weighed in with a further nine goals for Villa to help ease them out of relegation trouble.

The striker scored 10 goals in 26 appearances for Villa last season but has been mysteriously out of the first-team picture in recent months under current manager Paul Lambert.

Bent is currently recovering from a foot injury (Daily Telegraph) but is not expected to remain at Villa Park for much longer.