Messi remains world's top paid footballer
FC Barcelona and Argentina's forward Lionel Messi after receiving the 2015 Fifa Ballon d’Or award for player of the year during the 2015 Fifa Ballon d'Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 11, 2016. He remains the world's highest paid footballer. PHOTO | FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP
What you need to know:
- Messi's earnings in 2015 rose by nine million euros compared to the previous figures, keeping the five-time Ballon d'Or winner ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (67.4m euros) and Neymar (43.5m euros) as the top three stayed unchanged for the third year running.
- Angel Di Maria was the top-earning player in France with 24 million euros following his off-season move from Manchester United, with the Argentine narrowly ahead of Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
PARIS
Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi remains the world's highest paid footballer with an annual income of 74 million euros ($84.3 million, £59.3 million), according to a report set to appear in Tuesday's edition of France Football magazine.
Messi's earnings in 2015 rose by nine million euros compared to the previous figures, keeping the five-time Ballon d'Or winner ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (67.4m euros) and Neymar (43.5m euros) as the top three stayed unchanged for the third year running.
France Football's estimates were based on players' pre-tax salaries, sponsorship revenues and various bonuses, it added.
PLAYER WAGES
Angel Di Maria was the top-earning player in France with 24 million euros following his off-season move from Manchester United, with the Argentine narrowly ahead of Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
However, figures in France only accounted for player wages and contract bonuses, according to the report.
Despite his sacking from Chelsea in December, Jose Mourinho was the highest earning coach on 24 million euros, with Pep Guardiola and Fabio Capello rounding out the top three.
