Cristiano Ronaldo became the arena’s highest-paid footballer — and highest-paid group athlete — remaining 12 months, in step with US commercial enterprise mag Forbes.
real Madrid famous person Ronaldo become stated to have earned a total of $eighty two million (£56.7m), with an annual profits of $53m (£36.7m) and $29m (£20m) in endorsements.
The 31-year-old Portugal captain, who have become the world’s maximum high-priced participant when he joined Madrid from Manchester United for £80m in 2009, signed a beneficial new five-year settlement on the Bernabeu in 2013.
Forbes, which also ranked actual Madrid as football’s maximum valuable club, stated Ronaldo, a 3-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, is now the excellent-paid group athlete across all game.
Barcelona ahead Lionel Messi, the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, was second in the listing on $77m (£53.3m), with the 28-year-old’s $51m (£35.3m) salary augmented by using $26m (£18m) in endorsements. The Argentina captain renewed his Barca agreement in 2014.
READ MORE : #Forbes Adele named UK’s richest female musician as fortune hits £85m
Forbes said that Ronaldo has made $550m (£380.9m) over the path of his 14-12 months gambling profession, which started with sporting Lisbon, whilst Messi, who has spent his complete career with Barca, has made $450m (£311.5m) in his eleven years.
Former basketball celebrity Kobe Bryant, who retired in April, is the simplest team sport athlete to have made more than Ronaldo, with Forbes reporting that he earned $680m (£470.8m) in a career that lasted 17 years.
World's highest-paid soccer players:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Lionel Messi
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovichttps://t.co/1XP86S7P23 #ForbesFooty— Forbes (@Forbes) May 11, 2016
Ronaldo and Messi, who have been the only Ballon d’Or winners since Kaka’s 2007 success, are some distance ahead of Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in third.
The Sweden captain, 34, made the bulk of his $37m (£25.6m) through his salary with the Ligue 1 champions, with only $7m (£4.84m) coming through endorsements.
Ibrahimovic is out of contract at PSG this summer and has yet to make a decision on his next move, with AC Milan and Manchester United among the potential destinations.
Barcelona and Brazil forward Neymar was named the fourth biggest earner, on $36m (£24.9m).
Forbes reports that the 24-year-old is the only footballer on the list to earn more in endorsements ($22m or £15.2m) than through his salary ($14m or £9.69m).
Neymar, who joined Barca from Santos in 2013, has been tipped to sign a more lucrative deal with the Catalan club for some time, but the agreement has reportedly been held up due to financial issues.
Luis Suarez, the third member of the Barcelona attack, was ranked eighth in the Forbes list, with total earnings of $23m (£15.9m).
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale was fifth on the list with $34m (£23.5m).
The Wales international, who overtook Ronaldo as football’s most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, signed a six-year deal when he moved to the Bernabeu.
Forbes’ top five highest-paid footballers:
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): $82m (£56.7m)
2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona): $77m (£53.3m)
3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain): $37m (£25.6m)
4 Neymar (Barcelona): $36m (£24.9m)
5 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): $34m (£23.5m)
[…] READ MORE : Cristiano Ronaldo is highest-paid player, Lionel Messi second […]