LIONEL MESSI HIGHEST INCOME GENERATOR IN WORLD FOOTBALL

French Sports magazine "France Football" has published the list of the "Best Income Generating Football Players", with FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi taking the Top spot with 41M€ ahead of Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo with 39,5M€. The difference is "peanuts" compared with third placed FC Barcelona player Neymar with 29M€, however this will be on the rise as many expect the Brazilian to be the "heir apparant".

Two Spanish players are in the Top 10, Fernando Torres with 16,2M€ & David Silva with 15,5M€

1. Leo Messi: 41 M euros
2. Cristiano Ronaldo: 39,5 M
3. Neymar: 29 M
4. Wayne Rooney: 24 M
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 23,5 M 
6. Radamel Falcao: 21,2 M
7. Kun Agüero: 19,7 M
8. Thiago Silva: 17 M
9. Eden Hazard: 16,8 M
10. Franck Ribéry: 16,5 M
11. Fernando Torres: 16,2 M
13. David Silva: 15,5 M

Let see the break-down of the Lionel Messi 41M€  = 12,5M salary FC Barcelona + 2,5 M in bonuses. Apart he receives 25 M€ more from Adidas, FIFA 2014, Samsung, Turkish Airlines, Ooredoo, Pepsi-Cola, Audermars Piguet, Gillette, Dolce e Gabbana, Head & Shoulders, Gatorade, Herbalife, Pan Bimbo, Banca Nativa Nacion, We chat/Tecent) in publicity & other various operations (merchandising,etc…).

Messi is also the 5th World Sports money earners behind Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant & LeBron James.