MANCHESTER UNITED icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer on the planet, according to Forbes.
The Portuguese, 36, is expected to earn more than Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi, 34, during the 2021-22 campaign.
The American business magazine claims Ronaldo will earn £92MILLION this season – £51.3m coming from his eye-watering Man Utd salary.
The forward completed a return to Old Trafford on deadline day and the rest of his staggering earnings will come from lucrative endorsements.
These include huge deals with Nike, Tag Heuer and his own CR7 brand, which spans clothing, accessories and hotels.
Messi was top of Forbes’ list last year – earning £98m – but has fallen behind Ronaldo after leaving Barcelona for PSG in August.
The Argentine’s wage has reportedly dropped to £25.7m – around £494,000-a-week – but he’s still set to earn an incredible £81m.
Third on the list is Neymar, 29, who is set to rake in £70m this season at PSG, receiving the same generous salary as Messi.
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Messi’s endorsements include Adidas, Pepsi and Budweiser, while Neymar has penned deals with Nike, Superdry and Diesel.
But there is a significant gap between the Brazilian and PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe, 22, who is set to earn £32m.
The Frenchman, 22, is the youngest player on Forbes’ list and is tipped to be one of the sport’s best-paid players for years to come.
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, 29, is fifth on the list with predicted earnings of £30m, despite taking home the smallest wage of any of the top ten.
It’s the kind of selling power that comes from being the world’s most popular athlete.
Forbes on Ronaldo
£11.7m of the Egyptian’s reported cash will come from endorsements – making him the fourth most marketable footballer on the planet.
Earning slightly less than Salah is Robert Lewandowksi, 33, who is set to take home £26m thanks to his £380,000-a-weekBayern Munich salary.
Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta, 37, is reportedly picking up an even bigger wage with Japan’s Vissel Kobe – £437,000-a-week – helping him amass £26m.
Forbes also claim Paul Pogba, 28, is getting £25m, Gareth Bale, 32, is taking home £23m and Eden Hazard, £30, is scooping £21m.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
