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Lionel Messi is the richest footballer in the world, according to Forbes, after a report on his earnings put him ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi’s total earnings this year are $ 126 million, $ 92 million from his salary and $ 34 million in endorsements.
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Ronaldo ranks second, although the $ 117 million earnings will soften the blow for the Juventus forward, as will his status as the world’s most followed soccer player on social media.
Neymar is third on the Forbes list ($ 96 million) with his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, 21-year-old Kylian Mbappé, in fourth place ($ 42 million).
The Premier League remains the richest national league in the world, but only two of its outfield players are in the top 10 of the wealth chart: Liverpool title-winning forward Mohamed Salah in fifth place ($ 37 million) and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba ($ 34m) in sixth. Pogba’s teammate, goalkeeper David de Gea ($ 27 million), is 10th.
Antoine Griezmann of Barcelona is seventh and Gareth Bale of Real Madrid eighth. Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski, the only player in the Bundesliga, is ninth.
Messi reluctantly agreed to stay at Barcelona for one more season this month, despite saying after the 8-2 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich that he wanted out.
He argued that a clause in his contract that stated that he had to comply with a termination fee of 700 million euros in order for him to join another club was no longer active and that he could leave with a free transfer, a situation that would have allowed him to send salaries. astronomical people like Manchester City.
Messi, 33, is in the final year of his contract, so he could leave for free next summer. By staying at the Catalan club, Messi is in line for an $ 83 million loyalty bonus, so he will likely continue to top the money charts.
