London, March 10 (IANS) Cristiano Ronaldo was Monday named the world’s richest footballer after topping the annual list of players’ net worth compiled by a football website Goal.com.
The Real Madrid forward held off Barcelona rival Lionel Messi in the Goal Rich List 2014 with estimated wealth of 148 million euros.
Ronaldo has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months in which his value to club and country has 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.
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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.
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 euros a week.
Neymar‘s controversial transfer to Barcelona sees him rise sharply in the standings to sixth.
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 148million euros (122mn pounds)
2. Lionel Messi, Barcelona 146mn euros (120.5mn pounds)
3. Samuel Eto’o, Chelsea 85mn euros (70mn pounds)
4. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United 84mn euros (69mn pounds)
5. Kaka, AC Milan 82mn euros (67.5mn pounds)
6. Neymar, Barcelona 80mn euros (66mn pounds)
7. Ronaldinho, Atletico Mineiro 78mn euros (64mn pounds)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris St-Germain 69mn euros (57mn pounds)
9. Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus 63mn euros (52mn pounds)
10. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls 57mn euros (47mn pounds)
