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Rediff.com  » Sports » Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player
This article was first published 10 years ago

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Last updated on: March 10, 2014 14:29 IST

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo greets the media
Photographs: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Rediff Sports Desk

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world's best soccer player when he bagged the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Now he is the wealthiest too!

The year 2013 was ruled by English soccer legend David Beckham, but Ronaldo has claimed the top spot to the world's wealthiest player, according to the Goal Rich List.

The Real Madrid star midfielder enjoys a fortune of 122 million pounds, dethroning retired England star Beckham, who was named last year's richest with 165 million pounds.

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Image: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo holds his trophy after being awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 in Zurich
Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Soccer attracts more corporate money than any other sport in the world and its star players attract over $250 million a year from sponsors.

Ronaldo has reportedly got a lucrative Nike deal and signed a new 76 million pounds contract with Real Madrid last summer to add to his fortune.

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Image: Lionel Messi
Photographs: David Ramos/Getty Images

Ronaldo is followed in second place by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who is worth 120.5 million pounds, thanks to a string of endorsements.

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Image: Samuel Eto'o of Chelsea does an 'Old Man' celebration
Photographs: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

And in third place is Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o, with a 70 million pounds fortune, the report added.

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Image: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United looks on
Photographs: Michael Regan/Getty Images

According to the Daily Star, the only British footballer to make the annual Goal Rich List this year is Wayne Rooney, who was named the world's fourth richest footballer with a 69 million pounds fortune.

Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

Image: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United applauds the crowd
Photographs: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Rooney, who recently signed a 300,000-a-week pounds deal with Manchester United, reportedly adds to his fortune with sponsorship deals worth 1.8 million pounds, including contracts with Nike and Samsung, while his wife Coleen Rooney draws in her own money in hundreds of thousands from her Littlewoods fashion and Argos jewellery ranges.