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Ronaldo crowned world's richest soccer player

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

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

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

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

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

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.