Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the highest-paid footballer for 2021 with pre-tax earnings of $125 million.
A report by Safe Betting Sites on Wednesday revealed that Ronaldo topped the list of highest-paid footballers, earning $125M of the $415 million taken home by the five highest-earning footballers in the world.
Despite receiving lesser than his rival Lionel Messi in salary, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner topped the list with $70 million in salary and bonuses and a $55 million worth endorsements deal, $15 million more than the Argentine’s pre-tax earnings.
Ranked second-highest-paid footballer for 2021, Messi accumulated a total of $110 million in pre-tax earnings.
Messi tops the salary and bonuses list in the football world with earnings of $75 million in salary and bonuses, $5 million more than his Portuguese rival.
Also on the list with $95 million earnings from salary, bonuses and endorsement deals, Neymar ranked the third-highest paid football player in 2021.
Completing the top five highest-earning footballers for 2021 are Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah who made $43 million and $41 million respectively in total earnings for 2021.
The statistic indicates that three of the five highest-paid footballers play in Paris Saint Germain.