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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

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

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)

10. Eden Hazard (£21.26m)

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