Cristiano Ronaldo was today 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 €148 million. 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 World Cup play-offs, landed the 2013 Ballon d’Or
and signed a record-breaking new five-year deal with
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 in 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 (£122m)
2. Lionel Messi, Barcelona €146m (£120.5m)
3. Samuel Eto’o, Chelsea €85m (£70m)
4. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United €84m (£69m)
5. Kaka, AC Milan €82m (£67.5m)
6. Neymar & family, Barcelona €80m (£66m)
7. Ronaldinho, Atletico Mineiro €78m (£64m)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris St-Germain €69m
(£57m)
9. Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus €63m (£52m)
10. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls €57m (£47m)
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