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Man Utd's Cristiano Ronaldo eclipses Lionel Messi in new Forbes highest-paid footballer list as Gareth Bale features

Cristiano Ronaldo's huge commercial deals have seen him move top of the pile ahead of Lionel Messi and Co

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is now the highest-paid footballer on the planet, with Gareth Bale (inset) making the top 10.(Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has replaced Lionel Messi as the highest-paid footballer in the world, with Gareth Bale still among the top earners.


According to Forbes, the Portuguese is set to make £91.63m before tax during the 2021-22 season after securing a move back to Old Trafford.


Around £51.31m will come from wages and bonuses, while the 36-year-old will earn around £40.31m from commercial tie-ups; only three athletes in the world will earn more than him in that respect - tennis legend Roger Federer (£65.97m), basketball star LeBron James (£47.64m) and golfing royalty Tiger Woods (£43.98m).


Wales and Real Madrid star Bale sneaks into the top 10 at nine with expected earnings this season of £23.46m.

Around £18.9m of Bale's earnings will come from his salary in Madrid, while approximately £4.3m will be earned from endorsements.

Read more: You can see Bale's stunning golf course in his own back garden here


Messi falls to second in the rankings despite sealing a mega-money switch to Paris St Germain from Barcelona earlier this summer.

He will earn a whopping £80.63m this term, with £50m of that coming from wages and bonuses in Paris.

READ MORE: Get the latest Welsh footballing news right here


Messi's team-mates in the French capital, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe, are third and fourth in the standings respectively.

The Brazilian will earn £69.68m, with the Frenchman bringing in £31.54m.

Liverpool's Mo Salah gatecrashes the party at fifth (£30.6m) and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski is at six (£25.66m).


At seven is veteran Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta who is expected to earn £25.66m from his salary with Japanese club Vissel Kobe.

Ronaldo's club team-mate Paul Pogba is at eight (£24.92m), with Eden Hazard making up the numbers at 10, who is set to bring home £21.26m over the course of the 2021-22 campaign.

Top 10 in full


1. Cristiano Ronaldo (£91.63m)

2. Lionel Messi (£80.63m)

3. Neymar Jr (£69.68m)


4. Kylian Mbappe (£31.54m)

5. Mo Salah (£30.6m)

6. Robert Lewandowski (£25.66m)


7. Andres Iniesta (£25.66m)

8. Paul Pogba (£24.92m)

9. Gareth Bale (£23.46m)

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10. Eden Hazard (£21.26m)

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