LIONEL MESSI is the top-paid player in Europe on a staggering £2.1million per week, according to L’Equipe.
The French publication recently shared a list of the most-generously reimbursed footballers on the continent.
And Barcelona icon Messi, 33, dwarfed the competition.
In fact, Messi’s weekly pay of £2.1m was more than DOUBLE his nearest rival.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, picks up a staggering £900,000 per week at Juventus.
But that is under half what Messi pockets the Nou Camp – 43 per cent to be exact.
Incredibly, based on pure wages – with no endorsement deals included, L’Equipe claim Messi takes home an astonishing £108.2m each year.
Ronaldo’s £46.7m annual income still comfortably places him second, though.
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar comes in third, earning £606,000 per week – or £31.5m each year.
Luis Suarez is claimed to rake in £575,000 a week from Atletico Madrid – tied with Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Antoine Griezmann.
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The pair make £29.9m each annually.
Despite his sensational pay-packet, Messi looks set to quit Barcelona on a free this summer.
PSG and Manchester City are believed to be leading the race to sign the Argentine icon.
But new Barcelona president Joan Laporta – returning for a second spell in the role – has emotionally begged Messi to stay.
Laporta said: “We will try to convince Leo to stay at the club.
“Sorry Leo. I will do my best and he knows it!
“We’re going to try, of course, to convince him to stay here because he’s the best player in history.
“Sorry, but I love you and Barcelona also loves you.
“If this stadium were full, you wouldn’t want to go.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
