Messi Earns £120m, Outshines Ronaldo As World’s Richest Player

• Neymar, Bale, Sterling, Iniesta in top 10 list

  

Argentine and FC Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi is sitting pretty at the top as the current richest footballer in the world with a staggering income of about £120 million

In achieving this laudable feat, the world’s best player edged his long-standing rival and Juventus of Italy’s striker, Cristiano Ronaldo in the rankings of 10 best-paid players in world football.

However, the twosome remain the only men to break £100 million barrier while Manchester City’s forward, Raheem Sterling is only Premier League player and Englishman to make the cut

In compiling a list of the top 10 best-paid players in 2019, which predictably saw two of the game’s greatest-ever players sit in first and second place, the influential France Football said Messi made £120 million last year. The amount is about £11 million more than earnings by Ronaldo who enjoyed his first full campaign at the Italian Old Lady’s camp.

As the only players to surpass the £100 million mark, their annual earnings comprise wages, endorsements, commercial revenue, bonuses and other streams of income

Flowing from these top two, the gap between them and other players is far apart with the closest being PSG superstar, Neymar who collected £87 million for his efforts last year.

Real Madrid outcast, Gareth Bale received £35.45 million in what has been a dramatic fall from grace during his career at the Bernabeu. He narrowly pips Antoine Griezmann to fourth place, with the Frenchman earning £200,000 less than the former Tottenham winger.

Interestingly, Manchester City star Raheem Sterling is the only Premier League player and Englishman to make the list, raking in £30.96 million during the calendar year that saw the Pep Guardiola’s men securing an unprecedented English domestic treble.

But a surprise inclusion on the list came in the form of former Barcelona midfielder, Andres Iniesta. Despite leaving the Nou Camp for Japanese side, Vissel Kobe in 2018, Iniesta is still smiling to the bank, having earned £31.14 million in 2019.

While France Football may have denied Polish star, Robert Lewandowski, the Ballon d’Or award this year, they couldn’t stop him from making the top 10 list, with the Bayern Munich talisman coming ninth with a haul of £26.56 million.

Kylian Mbappe joins PSG team-mate Neymar on the list, having earned £24.73m last year to complete the top 10 list.

Meanwhile, there are speculations that Cristiano Ronaldo has been ‘offered to Barcelona’ in a sensational move that would pair him with Lionel Messi… as Juventus try to relieve themselves of his £28m salary

According to Spanish football expert, Gu Mkillem Balague, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has been touting his client to other clubs amid interest from PSG, with Barcelona also among those contacted. – Mailonline with agency reports