Football’s richest: Top 10

10 March 2014 at 18:41 by Trevor Cramer –

Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named the world’s richest
footballer after topping the annual list of players’ net worth compiled
by global football media title Goal.com.

The
Real Madrid forward just held off Barcelona rival Lionel Messi in the
Goal Rich List 2014 with an estimated wealth of €148m (R2.2bn).

 Ronaldo has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months in which his value to club and country has been never been more evident.

 
He
scored all four goals as Portugal beat Sweden in the Soccer World Cup
playoffs, landed the 2013 Ballon d’Or and signed a record-breaking new
five-year deal with Real Madrid.


 
Messi,
who lost his Ballon d’Or crown to Ronaldo in January, came in second
after inspiring Barcelona to the Spanish title and signing up for a
range of lucrative endorsements. 

 
The
Goal Rich List is collated by a team of analysts and takes into account
all streams of revenue for active footballers over the course of their
careers.

 
Ronaldo succeeds David Beckham who led the way in the 2013 Goal Rich List but called time on his playing career in May 2013.
 
Only
current professionals are eligible with the earnings of more than 200
contenders assessed before Goal’s experts finalised on their selection.

 
Wayne
Rooney makes the top four on the list following Manchester United’s
decision to offer him the biggest contract in British football history,
worth €365 000 a week.

 
Neymar’s
controversial transfer to Barcelona sees him rise sharply in the
standings to sixth, with his parents’ €40m ‘compensation’ payment
included Goal’s figures due to its game-changing significance. The rest
of the list is made up of global superstars, who have accrued huge
wealth over significant spells at the top of the professional game.

 
Chelsea’s
Samuel Eto’o is at number three, ahead of Rooney, thanks largely to the
millions he earned at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, with Kaka,
Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluigi Buffon and Thierry Henry
completing the Top 10.



Goal Rich List 2014 – Top 10:



1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid – €148m (R2.2bn)

2. Lionel Messi, Barcelona – €146m

3. Samuel Eto’o, Chelsea – €85m

4. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United – €84m

5. Kaka, AC Milan – €82m

6. Neymar & family, Barcelona – €80m

7. Ronaldinho, Atletico Mineiro – €78m

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris St-Germain – €69m

9. Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus – €63m

10. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls – €57m

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